The Prosecution Highlights The Severity And Cruelty Of Taeil’s Crime, Lawyer Asks For Leniency
Singer Taeil (31), who left the idol group NCT after being accused of sexual assault, underwent trial for quasi rape. The prosecution has detailed what Taeil and his acquaintances did to hide their crime.
During the trial, Taeil pleaded for leniency from the court, saying, “I apologize to those who felt disappointed in me.”
On the 18th of June, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 26 held the first trial for Taeil and his co-defendants, Mr. Lee and Mr. Hong, who are charged with aggravated rape under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The court concluded arguments after the hearing.
Prosecutors stated, “The defendants committed a group sexual assault against a foreign female tourist, making the case extremely serious and the nature of the crime very vile,” and requested that all three be sentenced to 7 years in prison.
They added, “After the crime, the defendants even discussed intentionally sending the victim away in a taxi to a location different from where the crime took place. They attempted to make it difficult for the victim to remember the crime scene or for police to trace it, exploiting the fact that she is a foreigner.”
The prosecution also said, “Given the content of the defendants’ claims, we seriously question whether they are truly remorseful,” and asked the court to carefully consider the gravity of the crime when determining the sentence, despite the existence of a settlement agreement.
Taeil’s lawyer appealed for leniency, citing that a settlement had been reached with the victim, “The victim accepted the apology and expressed no intention to pursue punishment. Taeil has deeply reflected on his wrongdoing, completed a sexual assault prevention education program, and is receiving psychological counseling. He is determined never to repeat such behavior.”
In his final statement, Taeil said, “I am truly sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me. If given leniency, I will take it as the last chance of my life and live doing anything I can to contribute to society.”
The defense teams for Taeil, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Hong also asked the court to consider that they submitted letters of self-surrender in August of last year when the police investigation was ongoing. However, the prosecution countered, “The police conducted a search and seizure two months after the incident. The surrender letters were only submitted after that, so it does not meet the legal definition of voluntary surrender and undermines its meaning.”
The verdict for the three defendants will be delivered on July 10.
Taeil was indicted without detention in March on charges of sexually assaulting an intoxicated foreign woman along with friends Mr. Lee and Mr. Hong in June of last year.
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Source: (A)
