Rapper Given Prison Sentence for Habitual Marijuana Use in Home and Studio

[The Financial News] Rapper Keith Ape (legal name Lee Dong-heon, 33), who habitually smoked marijuana, has received a final sentence of one year and six months in prison.
According to the legal community on the 25th, the Supreme Court Third Division, presided over by Justice Lee Suk-yeon of the Supreme Court of Korea, upheld last month the lower court ruling that sentenced Lee on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (marijuana).
From February 2023 to January 2024, Lee was repeatedly brought to trial on charges of smoking marijuana at his home, his music studio, and other locations.
The court of first instance stated, "The defendant is highly blameworthy, his level of addiction to narcotics is severe, and it is difficult to conclude that the risk of reoffending is low," and sentenced him to a total of one year and six months in prison while ordering him to complete 40 hours of a drug addiction rehabilitation program.
The same court also pointed out, "The defendant committed each of the offenses during the probationary period for a previous narcotics conviction, and after appearing at the probation office for a drug test and returning home, he committed another offense on the very same day."
Although Keith Ape appealed the ruling, the appellate court and, ultimately, the Supreme Court of Korea found no error in these determinations and dismissed his appeal.
He had also been indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act in 2021 and 2023, in both cases receiving suspended prison sentences that became final.


hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-joo Reporter