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| Nam Tae-hyun / Photo=DB |
[Sports Today Reporter Kim Tae-hyung] Nam Tae-hyun, the former WINNER member who caused a drunk-driving crash while serving a suspended sentence for drug use, was handed a prison term in the first-instance trial.
On the afternoon of the 9th, Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court held the sentencing hearing for Nam, who was indicted on charges including violating the Road Traffic Act for driving under the influence.
The court sentenced Nam to one year in prison and imposed a fine of 1,000,000 KRW (about $660). In explaining its decision, the court said it treated the case sternly because Nam drove while intoxicated during the probationary period that followed his drug conviction. However, the judge decided not to issue an arrest warrant, finding no risk that the defendant would destroy evidence or flee.
Prosecutors say Nam crashed into a center divider near Dongjak Bridge at around 4:10 a.m. on April 27 last year while driving northbound on the Gangbyeonbuk-ro toward Ilsan after attempting to pass the car ahead.
The crash caused no injuries, but authorities reported his blood alcohol concentration exceeded the license-suspension threshold of 0.08%. Prosecutors also say he was driving at 182 km/h (about 113 mph) in a zone where the posted limit is 80 km/h (about 50 mph).
In May of that year, Seoul Yongsan Police forwarded the case to prosecutors without detaining Nam. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office then indicted him without detention on July 14.
On the 12th of last month, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Nam to 18 months in prison and fine him 1,000,000 KRW (about $660), citing a prior conviction for a similar offense, his high blood alcohol level, the excessive speed, and the fact that the incident occurred during his probation period.
Previously, in March 2023 Nam received a summary order fining him 6,000,000 KRW (about $3,960) for drinking and driving in Seoul’s Gangnam district. In January 2024, he was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspension after being found guilty of using methamphetamine with his partner.
[Sports Today Reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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