Taeil Appeals 3.5-Year Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault After Immediate Custody

Former NCT member Taeil (Moon Taeil) has appealed his conviction after being sentenced to prison for sexual assault charges.

On the 10th, the Seoul Central District Court's 26th Criminal Division sentenced Taeil and two others to three years and six months in prison for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (aggravated sexual assault). They were taken into custody immediately. The court also ordered them to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program, disclose their personal information, and restricted them from working in institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled for five years.

According to legal sources, the prosecution filed an appeal against the first trial's verdict on the 15th. The two others involved in the crime also appealed.

On the 16th, Taeil submitted his appeal, moving the case to a higher court for judgment.

The first trial court noted, "The defendants took advantage of the victim being unable to resist due to intoxication and committed the crime at defendant Lee's residence, showing very poor character. The foreign tourist victim seems to have suffered significant mental distress from being assaulted in an unfamiliar place." However, the court considered that the defendants were first-time offenders, admitted their crimes, and reached a settlement with the victim, who did not wish for punishment.

Regarding the leniency plea due to the defendants' voluntary surrender, the court stated, "It is merely an artificial reason for leniency. Objective evidence had already been collected, and their whereabouts were known at the time of surrender. Considering various circumstances, including surrendering after a search of their residence, we will not grant double leniency."

Taeil, who had been on trial without detention, was immediately taken into custody after being sentenced to prison in the first trial. The court explained, "We are issuing an arrest warrant due to concerns of flight since a prison sentence was handed down in the first trial."



Meanwhile, Taeil is accused of sexually assaulting a foreign woman who was intoxicated, along with two acquaintances, last June.

During the June trial, the prosecution stated, "This is a very serious case of group sexual assault on a foreign female tourist, and the nature of the crime is extremely poor," and sought a seven-year prison sentence.

In his final statement, Taeil said, "If granted leniency, I will consider it the last chance of my life and will strive to contribute to society in any way possible," bowing his head.

Born in 1994, Taeil debuted in 2016 and was active in NCT U and NCT 127.

Photo = XportsnewsDB

This article was originally published in Korean on Xportsnews and was translated into English using AI.

by Hwang Suyeon