Moon Tae-il (stage name TAEIL, 31), a former member of the group NCT, has been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and taken into custody for the gang rape of an intoxicated foreign female tourist.
The Seoul Central District Court's 26th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Ryu Sung-yeol) sentenced Moon Tae-il and two other defendants to 3 years and 6 months in prison this afternoon at 2 PM for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (aggravated rape). Additionally, they were ordered to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and are banned from employment at children and youth-related institutions for 5 years.
The court stated, "The defendants have admitted to all charges and have been found guilty based on the evidence. They took advantage of the victim's intoxicated state, rendering her unable to resist, and committed the crime at Mr. Lee's residence. The foreign tourist victim suffered significant mental distress from being assaulted in a foreign place. However, the court has taken into consideration that all defendants are first-time offenders and that the victim does not wish for their punishment."
Previously, Moon Tae-il's legal representative requested leniency, citing his submission of a confession to the investigative authorities. However, the court added, "Considering the confession was made after the defendants' homes were searched, we cannot grant a reduced sentence for this reason."
Moon Tae-il, who appeared in court wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt and long pants, remained silent with his lips tightly sealed when asked if he had any comments regarding his detention. He was taken into custody with a stern expression alongside two accomplices. About 20 individuals, presumed to be Moon Tae-il's fans, attended the court to hear the verdict.
Moon Tae-il was previously indicted without detention for raping an intoxicated foreign woman in a state of mental incapacitation along with accomplices near Seoul's Itaewon last June. The prosecution demanded a 7-year prison sentence at the final hearing, citing the seriousness of the case and the extremely poor nature of the crime. They also requested completion of a sexual violence treatment program, disclosure of personal information, and an employment ban.
SM Entertainment terminated its exclusive contract with Moon Tae-il in August of last year after belatedly becoming aware of the incident, and Moon Tae-il was also removed from the group NCT.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)