The prosecution added the charge of 'coercion of interview' to YG Entertainment executive producer Yang Hyun-seok.
On the 12th, Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-3 held the first appellate trial for Yang Hyun-seok. It is a charge of violating the law on aggravated punishment for specific crimes (threat of retaliation).
On this day, the prosecution submitted an application for permission to change the indictment at the trial, stating, 'Add crimes such as coercion of interviews as preliminary criminal facts.'
The crime of coercing an interview is a crime that applies to a person who forces an interview or exerts force on a person involved in the investigation or trial of his or her own or another person's criminal case, or his or her relatives, without justifiable grounds. You can be punished by imprisonment for up to 3 years or by a fine of up to 3 million won.
The prosecution said, "While the original trial acquitted the defendants, it ruled that the defendants' actions 'cannot help but be said to be highly reprehensible acts,'" and added, "The fact that they cannot be legally held responsible for anything even though they committed highly reprehensible actions means that society “It is difficult to say that it conforms to the general concept of justice,” he added.
In response, Yang Hyun-suk's side countered, saying, "In the first trial, we proceeded with the content that there was a threat, but when the case was found not guilty, we changed it to forcing an interview, which even the term was unfamiliar to. We are admitting that we failed to prove the facts of the indictment."
Yang Hyun-suk is suspected of covering up the B.I. drug investigation. He is accused of demanding or threatening Mr. A, who raised suspicions about B.I's drug purchase, to retract his statement. In this regard, the court found Yang Hyun-seok not guilty in the first trial.
The prosecution has filed an appeal against Yang Hyun-suk. The next trial is scheduled for May 24th.
Reporter Junho Yoon, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr