Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence for the man convicted of breaking into Nana‘s home, citing his extensive criminal history and accusing him of repeatedly making false claims about the case.
Closing arguments in the appeal were held September 17th at the Seoul High Court. The defendant, a man in his 30s identified as “A,” was sentenced to seven years in prison at his first trial.
Prosecutors argued that the sentence was too lenient, pointing to A’s previous convictions for offenses including online marketplace and investment fraud, drunk driving, assault, theft and document forgery. He is also currently standing trial in a separate alleged insurance fraud case.
“In more than 20 years as a prosecutor, I’ve dealt with tens of thousands of offenders, but it is rare to see someone who has committed such a wide variety of crimes,” the prosecutor told the court.
The prosecutor said A’s criminal history was relevant because it demonstrated what the prosecution characterized as a disregard for the law, a lack of remorse and a pattern of dishonesty. “He is not only capable of lying to conceal the truth, but is also highly adept at inventing things that never happened,” the prosecutor argued.
The prosecution also challenged A’s continued claim that he did not bring a knife into Nana’s home. A has alleged that Nana offered him 40 million won to say he had been carrying one, a claim prosecutors dismissed as implausible.
After his arrest, A claimed police had not informed him of his right to remain silent, but investigators later found the warning had been recorded. Prosecutors also revealed that A posted on a Q&A platform after his arrest, describing the crime and asking what punishment he could face.
Prosecutors further rejected his claim that the knife belonged to Nana, saying it was a commonly available product and that evidence showed A had brought it to the home himself.
The prosecution argued that despite the attempted robbery and the injuries suffered by the victims, A had shown no remorse and instead continued to make what it called false claims and pursue legal action against Nana. “We can only see this as continued secondary harm that takes advantage of the fact that the victim is a famous celebrity,” the prosecutor said.
A’s attorney maintained that he entered the home believing it was empty and intended only to steal, while continuing to deny that he was carrying a knife. The defense asked for a lighter sentence, saying A deeply regretted his actions.
A apologized to Nana and her mother in his final statement but again insisted, “I can’t say I did something I didn’t do. I absolutely did not bring a knife.”
The appeals court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on October 22nd.
A was convicted of entering Nana’s home in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, in November last year and demanding money before being subdued by Nana and her mother. Both women were injured in the incident. The first court rejected A’s claim that he was unarmed and sentenced him to seven years in prison.
>> Nana Takes on Cold-Blooded Criminal Profiler Role in New Netflix Thriller
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
Source (1)
