Singer-turned-actor Himchan avoids prison sentence again in third sexual offense case involving rape and forced molestation

Himchan (real name Kim Himchan, 34), a former member of the idol group B.A.P, who was prosecuted on charges of sexual assault and forced molestation, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

Former member Himchan (real name Kim Himchan) of the idol group 'B.A.P' [Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

The Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Western District Court (Chief Judge Kwon Seong-su) sentenced Himchan to three years in prison with a five-year suspension at the sentencing hearing held on the 1st. Additionally, he was ordered to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures and was prohibited from working at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for three years.

Furthermore, considering that Himchan and others were all intoxicated at the time of the crime, a special compliance condition was imposed prohibiting him from consuming alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% or higher.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant committed this crime again without self-reflection despite being on trial for similar offenses, and he betrayed the trust of the victim, who was a fan of the idol group to which the defendant belonged and was concerned about him, which makes the blameworthiness significant." However, Himchan’s full admission of the crimes and the victims’ desire not to punish him were considered favorable circumstances for Himchan.

Himchan was indicted last May for sexually assaulting a victim whom he had taken home, illegally filming her, and in June of the same year, for sending obscene materials during communication with the victim.

At that time, Himchan was undergoing a second trial for a previously committed forced molestation case. He was prosecuted in April of the following year for sexually molesting a woman in her 20s at a pension in Namyangju in July 2018. After being sentenced to 10 months in prison in the first trial in 2021, he was sentenced to the same term and detained in court during the appeal trial held last February.

In April 2022, he was also indicted in October of the same year for sexually molesting two intoxicated women on the external stairs of a bar in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.