Prosecution Appeals Suspended Sentence for JB Geumyung Family Son-in-Law on 'Drug' Charges

by Kim Daehyun

Published 27 Apr.2023 18:56(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution appealed the first-instance suspended sentence ruling for Im, a member of the JB Financial Group family, who was indicted on charges of purchasing and smoking marijuana.

On the 27th, a Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office official stated, "Considering the significant responsibility in drug distribution among the upper class and the fact that the defendant repeated the crime despite two prior convictions for similar offenses, we judged that a heavy sentence is necessary."

Earlier, Im, the son-in-law of the former chairman of JB Financial Group, was brought to trial last October on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act.

On the 21st, the first trial sentenced him to two years in prison with a three-year suspension.

During a large-scale investigation into drug use among chaebols, the prosecution uncovered that Im purchased marijuana from Hong, the grandson of the founder of Namyang Dairy Products, and sold marijuana to another Hong, the grandson of the founder of Korea Steel.