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| ▲ In this file photo, handcuffed popera singer Kim Ho-joong (C) exits the Seoul Central District Court in the capital city on May 24, 2024, after undergoing a review of his arrest warrant on the charge of a DUI hit-and-run. Kim is suspected of having rammed into a parked taxi while driving under the influence on the night of May 9 in Seoul's southern Gangnam district. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) court-popera star
(LEAD) Popera star Kim Ho-joong given 2 1/2-yr prison term over hit-and-run
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details)
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- A local court on Wednesday sentenced popera star Kim Ho-joong to 2 1/2 years in prison for fleeing the scene after driving his car into a taxi and turning his manager in to the authorities on his behalf.
In delivering the sentence, the Seoul Central District Court said Kim "fled irresponsibly" even after having caused damage to the taxi and its driver while driving under the influence, and caused confusion in the police's investigation by making his manager falsely surrender himself to the authorities.
The court questioned whether Kim felt "the slightest guilt" about his actions, given his overall behavior, including purchasing beer before checking into a motel after the accident to apparently distort his blood alcohol content.
Kim, 33, was indicted under arrest on charges of ramming his car into a stationary taxi in the opposite lane in Seoul's Gangnam Ward on May 9, leaving the scene without taking appropriate measures and then making his manager turn himself in.
The singer acknowledged responsibility 10 days after the incident.
The court said the belated acknowledgement was taken into account in the sentencing, as well as his payment of compensation to the victim.
The court also sentenced the head and a senior official of Kim's agency to two years and 2 1/2 years in prison, respectively, for trying to cover up the incident. Kim's manager was given a suspended one-year prison term for falsely turning himself in.
Police had filed for a DUI charge as well, but the prosecution removed it from its indictment, citing the difficulty of getting an accurate blood alcohol concentration measurement retroactively.
Prosecutors had demanded a 3 1/2-year prison term for Kim.
After the ruling was read, Kim left the courtroom silently while around 30 of his fans could be heard sighing in the public gallery.
His lawyer, asked by reporters to comment on the sentence, only said "sorry."
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