On the morning of the 12th, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 25-1 (Chief Judges Park Jeong-gil, Park Jeong-je, and Ji Gwi-yeon) held the first trial date for Mr. Yoo Ah-in and Mr. Choi (32), who were indicted on charges of violation of the Narcotics Control Act (hypocampus), etc. Open.
As it is the first trial date, the court is expected to confirm the facts of the indictment with the defendant Yoo Ah-in and the defense team and confirm whether to admit the evidence presented by the prosecution, and reach an agreement between both sides on which witnesses to select and summon in the future trial.
Previously, on November 19, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Violent Crime Investigation Department (Chief Prosecutor Kim Yeon-sil) indicted Yoo Ah-in without detention on a total of eight charges, including habitual use of propofol, buying illegal prescriptions for sleeping pills in other people's names, smoking marijuana, instigation, and instigation of destruction of evidence. Yoo Ah-in is accused of using more than seven types of drugs (violation of the Narcotic Drugs Control Act, etc.), including propofol, marijuana, ketamine, cocaine, zolpidem, midazolam, and alprazolam.
The main issues at this trial of Yoo Ah-in are expected to be the number of drugs administered, habitual and intentional use of drugs, and whether or not he taught an acquaintance to smoke marijuana.
Also, a major issue that will be addressed is how frequently and intentionally Yoo Ah-in took drugs. If the drug was administered randomly or without intention, there is a high possibility that the court's judgment on the charge will vary. Conversely, if you are a repeat offender, your sentence will increase.
Previously, the allegation that a hairstylist was accused of smoking marijuana, which had previously become a hot topic, also became an issue. The prosecution believes that Yoo Ah-in encouraged hair-related YouTuber Hairmon (31, real name Kim Woo-jun) to smoke, saying, “Isn’t it time you try it too?” and even taught him how to do so, in order to make people who witnessed his drug use become accomplices. . The act of instigating a witness following drug use may result in the court's disgrace.
In addition, what kind of attitude Yoo Ah-in approaches the trial is also important. If you continue to deny the charges or show no remorse even though there are valid circumstances or evidence, it will be detrimental to the court. Attention is also focused on what Yoo Ah-in, who will be standing in the court photo line instead of the police, will say.
Therefore, it is interpreted that Yoo Ah-in and his defense team's strategy will also be very important. This also served as the background for Yoo Ah-in's appointment of an additional lawyer, former chief judge of the High Court and head of the drug department at the Prosecutor's Office. Yoo Ah-in submitted an application to change the trial date through Haekwang Law Firm on the 10th of last month, and the court accepted it, giving him about a month to go.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr