Prosecutors Appeal All Participants in Yongsan Group Drug Case Related to 'Police Officer Fall Death'

The prosecution has appealed the first-instance verdict for six individuals tried on charges of collectively using narcotics in an apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Three companions who attended a drug meeting with an active-duty police officer at an apartment in Seoul, at the time of his fall death, are answering questions from reporters after completing a warrant hearing at the Seoul Western District Court in September last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 13th that it has filed an appeal against all six defendants indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances).

The prosecution explained the reason for the appeal, stating, "More than 20 people from various walks of life, including police officers and office workers, collectively used narcotics in a manner with a high potential for spread. Considering the need to prevent copycat crimes, the first-instance sentence is excessively lenient."

Previously, the first-instance court sentenced the meeting organizers, Mr. Lee and Mr. Jung, to five years and four years in prison, respectively. Mr. Lee was additionally sentenced to four months in prison for separately using methamphetamine.

Mr. A, who planned the meeting with them, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, and Mr. B, who used narcotics despite having a prior conviction for the same offense, was also sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Other participants, Mr. C and Mr. D, were sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a three-year probation.

They were indicted for providing narcotics and the venue for drug use to more than 20 participants at a narcotics gathering on the 14th floor of a residential-commercial complex apartment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on August 27 of last year, and for using ketamine and ecstasy.

Mr. Jung provided the meeting venue, and Mr. Lee was identified as responsible for supplying the narcotics. The narcotics gathering suspicion arose after Police Sergeant E from Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, who was present at the time, fell and died. It was confirmed that a total of 25 people, including Sergeant E, were gathered at the location.

After the first-instance trial, Mr. C and Mr. D filed appeals against the first-instance verdict with the court on the 8th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.