South Korean rapper Osshun Gum (오션검, real name Choi Ha Min, 최하민) has been given a suspended sentence for molesting a minor. In case you missed it, he personally admitted to all the child molestation charges placed against him back in May.
On 22nd June, the Jeonju 1st Criminal Division of the Jeonju District Court sentenced the 23-year-old to a suspended sentence of one year and six months in prison, and a three-year probation. This means that Choi will only be imprisoned if he violates his probation period.
The former “High School Rapper” contestant has also been ordered to receive treatment for mental illness for the next two years. He is also ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program. Throughout the three years of probation, Choi has also been restricted from working at a child and youth-related organisation and welfare facilities for the disabled.
The court said, “The defendant touched the backside of a child while he was walking with his parents. Given that an agreement has not been reached with the victim to this day, severe punishment is inevitable. However, the sentence was decided in consideration of the fact that the accused is reflecting on all his crimes. And the accused was in a mentally and physically weak state with bipolar disorder and committed the crime accidentally.”
For those in the dark, Choi was handed over to the court on 13th June 2021 on charges of touching the bottom of a 9-year-old kid near Haeundae, Busan. At that time, the young victim said, “He lightly rubbed his hand on my butt.” Following this, the victim’s parents filed a complaint against him.
During the trial, it was also revealed that Choi was diagnosed with a severe mental disorder in June last year. According to his lawyer, he admitted to a psychiatric hospital for around 70 days. He also clarified that the defendant was in a mentally and physically unstable at that time. Additionally, Choi also gave an illogical reasoning for the crime he committed. He said that he touched the kid’s butt to “eat his poop”!
Choi then appealed for leniency following the trial. He revealed through his legal representative, “It is qualitatively different from sexual assault such as grabbing or hitting a woman’s body. It is relatively a crime against minors. I would like to once again sincerely apologise for hurting the victim and his family.”
Source: AllKpop.
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