'Drug Use' Lee Cheol-gyu's Son Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in First Trial... 'Substantial Perpetrator'

[Financial News] The son of Lee Cheol-gyu, a member of the People Power Party, who was tried for using synthetic marijuana, was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial.
Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 36 (Chief Judge Lee Jeong-yeop) sentenced Mr. Lee, the son of the member of the National Assembly, to 2 years and 6 months for violating the Narcotics Control Act (marijuana) and other charges.
The court stated, "The defendant has a history of being exempted from prosecution for marijuana-related charges in the past and is the substantial perpetrator who involved other defendants," adding, "The legal punishment is severe for selling synthetic marijuana and attempting to collect marijuana despite the presence of police nearby, making the blame significant."
Mr. Lee's wife, Mrs. Im, an accomplice, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months with 3 years probation. Mr. Jeong, a middle school classmate of Mr. Lee, was sentenced to 3 years, and Mr. Kwon, a military senior, was sentenced to 3 years with 5 years probation.
Mr. Lee and others were tried for purchasing synthetic marijuana twice and using it three times from October last year to February this year. There are also charges of attempting to purchase liquid marijuana and other narcotics multiple times but failing.
Meanwhile, in his final statement on the 10th of last month, Mr. Lee said, "I have ruined myself with drugs and caused trouble to my parents," and pleaded for leniency, saying, "I know my crime is by no means light, but if you give me one more chance, I will build a happy family and live rightly."

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji Reporter