Don Spike Charged with Drug Use and Possession... Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

Court: "Admits the crime and shows remorse"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Don Spike (45, real name Kim Min-su), who was prosecuted on charges of drug use and possession, was sentenced to probation in the first trial.

On the 9th, Judge Oh Kwon-cheol of Criminal Division 13 at the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Kim, who is charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (psychotropic drugs) and other charges, to 3 years in prison with 5 years of probation. Additionally, he was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service and attend 80 hours of drug treatment lectures, and approximately 40 million KRW was confiscated. The prosecution had requested a 5-year prison sentence.

The court explained the sentencing rationale, stating, "The defendant has a history of punishment for marijuana smoking in 2010, and drug-related crimes are difficult to detect and prone to recidivism, causing significant harm to society." However, "the defendant had no criminal record for over 10 years, cooperated actively with the investigation, admitted all the facts of the crime, and is showing remorse." Kim, dressed in blue prison clothes, stood at the defendant's seat with his hands clasped while listening to the sentencing reasons.

Kim is accused of purchasing drugs worth approximately 45 million KRW in nine transactions since the end of 2021. Investigations also revealed that Kim administered drugs to himself or handed drugs to others 14 times.

The police arrested Kim at a hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in September last year. It is known that the police detected Kim's drug use charges during the investigation of another drug suspect. At the time of arrest, he was found in possession of 20 grams of methamphetamine. The typical dose of methamphetamine per use is 0.03 grams, so 20 grams corresponds to about 667 doses.

At the trial held on December 20 last year, Kim said, "I am truly sorry. I will never reoffend." Additionally, Kim's lawyer requested leniency, stating, "(Kim) experienced health deterioration during detention, including numbness in his fingertips, making it difficult even to write a letter of apology," and asked, "Please allow him to perform community service through music."