'Drug Use' Lee Chul-gyu's Son Receives Suspended Sentence on Appeal... 'Original Sentence Too Severe'

[Financial News] The son of Lee Chul-gyu, a member of the People Power Party, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for drug use, received a reduced sentence with a suspended sentence in the second trial.
On the 27th, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Seung-han, overturned the original ruling and sentenced Mr. Lee, who was indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), to two years and six months in prison, suspended for five years. The court also ordered 200 hours of drug addiction treatment and the forfeiture of 4.77 million won.
The court stated, 'It appears that the defendant has had an opportunity to reflect during the seven months of detention and has no prior convictions of a similar nature.' The court added, 'The purchase of narcotics was for personal use and did not pose a risk of distribution to third parties. Of the nine attempted purchases of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoid, excluding the use of synthetic cannabinoid, eight were unsuccessful. Considering these factors, the original sentence is deemed somewhat heavy.' The court also considered the family's petitions for leniency and the fact that the defendant has a young child to support.
Mr. Lee’s middle school friend, Mr. Jeong, also had his sentence reduced from three years in prison in the first trial to two years and six months. However, his wife, Ms. Lim, who was an accomplice, maintained her original sentence of two years and six months in prison, suspended for three years, and Mr. Kwon, Lee’s senior from the military, kept his sentence of three years in prison, suspended for five years.
From October last year to February this year, the defendants were tried for purchasing synthetic cannabinoid twice and using it three times, as well as attempting to purchase liquid cannabis and other substances on nine occasions.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter