Inhaled Hallucinogens Again Three Months After Release... Prison Sentence with Repeat Offender Aggravation

Inhaled Hallucinogens in Building Basement
Multiple Convictions for Similar Offenses

A man in his 40s who inhaled hallucinogens multiple times and served a prison sentence, only to inhale hallucinogens again immediately after his release, has been sentenced to another prison term.

On May 10, Judge Nam Minyoung of the Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court announced that he had sentenced Mr. A, who was indicted and detained for inhaling hallucinogenic substances in violation of the Chemical Substances Control Act, to one year in prison.

Seoul Southern District Court, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jiye Lee

In February of this year, Mr. A was sent to trial in custody after being caught inhaling hallucinogenic substances in the basement corridor of a building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Previously, Mr. A had served ten months in prison for the same offense and was released in December of last year. It was found that he committed the new offense just three months after his release.

Judge Nam stated, "The defendant has been punished multiple times for similar offenses, and the fact that he committed the crime during the repeat offender period is an unfavorable circumstance." However, he took into account as favorable factors that Mr. A admitted to all charges, showed remorse, and expressed a willingness to undergo treatment for drug addiction.

The repeat offender period refers to the three years following the completion or exemption of a sentence of imprisonment or greater. If a person commits another offense punishable by imprisonment or greater during this period, they are subject to aggravated punishment as a repeat offender.

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