[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
BIGBANG member TOP, who started his mandatory military service as a conscripted policeman in February, has been indicted for smoking marijuana multiple times, prosecutors said Monday.
The 29-year-old was charged with smoking marijuana four times at his home with a 21-year-old singer trainee, identified by her surname Han, in October last year, a few months before he joined the boot camp.
Initially, TOP argued he only smoked electronic cigarettes but he was tested positive in a test for drug residues in hair. Police had launched an investigation on testimony from Han who was arrested in March this year.
After being put under investigation, the singer released a handwritten letter of apology on Sunday. "I will sincerely receive any kind of punishment for letting fans and my family down," TOP wrote. "I am so disappointed in myself and it hurts me a lot. I am so sorry for my wrongdoings."
If TOP is sentenced with more than 18 months in prison, he will automatically be dishonorably discharged from the military and will be sent to jail to serves his time. If he is given a sentence of less than 18 months in prison, the singer will have to return to continue serving his duty after he spends time in prison. In this case, TOP is likely to be sent to other branches of the military.
TOP is the second member from BIGBANG to be investigated for smoking marijuana. G-DRAGON was investigated by prosecutors on similar charges in 2011. Smoking or consuming marijuana is illegal in South Korea and violators could be sentenced to less than five years in prison.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
