Ignored Stop Order and Fled... 'Drug Driving' 30s Sentenced to Prison

[Financial News] A man in his 30s who drove in reverse on a road after taking drugs was sentenced to prison by the court.
According to the legal community on the 15th, the Seoul Western District Court Criminal 9th Single (Judge Kim Minjeong) sentenced Mr. A (39), who was indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic) and the Road Traffic Act (drug driving), to 1 year and 6 months in prison. A 40-hour rehabilitation education program was also ordered.
Mr. A was put on trial for handing over 1.5 million won in cash to a drug dealer in the Gangnam-gu area of Seoul from November to December last year and purchasing 12.8g of ketamine and one tablet of MDMA (ecstasy). He was investigated for inhaling 0.2g of ketamine through his nose at his home in Hanam, Gyeonggi-do, immediately after purchase, and for dissolving ketamine in water and taking it with MDMA from the 21st to the 25th of the same month.
On December 25 last year, he was also charged with driving a foreign car in reverse for about 1.3km in the Yongsan-gu area of Seoul while under the influence of ketamine and MDMA. He fled when a police patrol car blocked his path. On the same day, a plastic bag containing 12.4g of ketamine was found in his car parked at the Hannam Police Station.
The court stated, "Driving in reverse on the road while under the influence of drugs and ignoring the police's stop order caused great danger to many unspecified people and road traffic. The amount of ketamine purchased is also large." It continued, "The defendant has a history of receiving a conditional suspension of indictment for a similar crime in April 2024, indicating a high possibility of reoffending," but also noted, "He admitted to all the crimes and showed a repentant attitude, and there is no record of punishment exceeding a fine before." This was explained as the reason for sentencing.



425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seunghan Reporter