[Dispatch=Reporter Lee A-Jin] Comedian Lee Jin-ho has been sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial on charges of habitual gambling and drunk driving.

Judge An Tae-yoon, presiding judge of the Criminal Division 1 of Yeoju Branch Court of Suwon District Court, held a sentencing trial for Lee Jin-ho on the 1st. A sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspended execution was handed down. He was also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

The court stated, "The sentence was determined in consideration of the defendant's remorse and other factors." Lee Jin-ho is accused of habitually engaging in illegal gambling from May 2023 to October 2024.

He transferred approximately 870 million won to illegal gambling sites across a total of 664 instances. The investigation found that he converted the transferred money into cyber money and gambled on games such as baccarat.

While in the state of being sent for indictment without arrest on gambling charges, he was also caught drunk driving. On September 24 last year, he drove under the influence of alcohol from Incheon to his residence in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

He drove approximately 70 kilometers while intoxicated. His blood alcohol concentration at the time was measured at 0.12%. This exceeds the 0.08% threshold for license revocation.

During a final hearing held on the 14th of last month, the prosecution sought a 2-year prison sentence for Lee Jin-ho. Considering both the habitual gambling and drunk driving charges, prosecutors requested the court impose a prison term without suspension.

In his final statement, Lee Jin-ho appealed for leniency, saying, "Since committing this mistake, I have not had a single day of peace, living in regret," and "I will not repeat this again."

<Photo=Dispatch DB>