Earlier in January, former T-ARA (티아라) member Areum (이아름) made headlines after being sentenced to eight months in prison and two years’ probation for child abuse and defamation, an incident that shocked many fans and the public alike. Months later, the retired idol was handed a further sentence of six months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of fraud.
Many expressed disappointment and frustration over the punishment, arguing that it was too lenient for the crimes she had committed. What was even more shocking was that the court approved a reduction of her sentence for one of the offences she was charged with. Here’s the story:
According to reports, after submitting an appeal in the fraud case, the Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 5-1 overturned the singer’s original verdict; the sentence of six months in prison, suspended for two years, has now been reduced to four months in prison, suspended for one year. As for the reason for this decision, the court told reporters, “We considered the fact that Areum admitted to her wrongdoing, reached settlements with two of the victims who no longer wish to pursue punishment, and repaid part of the money.”
It was reported that the court still acknowledges the severity of the celeb’s crimes. However, they have come to the conclusion that the original sentence was excessive given the circumstances. For a little bit of context, Areum was accused of borrowing money from fans in 2023, claiming that it was needed for personal matters. Unfortunately, she failed to repay those loans, which, of course, prompted the victims to take legal action against her. It was reported that the total amount defrauded was approximately KRW 37 million (around RM114,380).
The former idol initially denied those claims, claiming that she was hacked and that her ex-boyfriend was behind it, but eventually, she confessed to acting alone. As for Areum’s appeal in the child abuse and defamation case, there has been no update on it so far. Since netizens criticised that the punishment was too short, if the appeal were to be approved, there would be no doubt that it would spark outrage among the public. Do you believe that the court is being too lenient?
