Yoo Ah-in, a South Korean actor, was released from prison on Tuesday after receiving a suspended sentence for using the anaesthetic drug propofol without authorization.
Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was accused of using propofol on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022. Under the guise of performing cosmetic procedures, the drugs were administered at reputable clinics.
A lower court in September handed him the sentence of a year in prison and a $2,400 fine.
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The Seoul Central District Court at the time claimed Yoo had committed the crimes “in disregard of relevant regulations” and displayed a lack of caution when using illegal substances.
The high court, however, ordered Yoo to be released on Tuesday.
A court official told AFP that “he was given a one-year prison term, two-year suspension, and a two-million won fine.”
“Considering various sentencing factors such as the motive, method, and consequences of the crime, as well as the circumstances following the offence, the court deems the initial ruling heavy and unfair”, said the judge, according to court pool reports.
The actor who appeared in the Netflix series “Hellbound” was set to receive a four-year jail term last year by the prosecution.
A doctor who gave Yoo propofol without a valid prescription was fined 40 million won last year.
Propofol, while primarily used as a surgical anaesthetic, is sometimes abused recreationally, often with the involvement of medical professionals who may be willing to provide it without a legitimate clinical need.
Pop star Michael Jackson’s death was attributed to an overdose of the drug in 2009.
Yoo, 38, made his South Korean debut in 2003, appearing in a variety of television dramas and movies of all kinds and becoming one of the country’s most well-known actors.
He apologized in court last year for “causing concern to many people.”
Source: Channels TV
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