Actor Nana. [Yonhap]
Actor Nana. [Yonhap]

Prosecutors have asked a court to sentence a man in his 30s to 10 years in prison for breaking into the home of actor Nana, whose real name is Im Jin-ah.

They particularly urged a heavy punishment, saying the suspect has continued to inflict secondary harm on the victim by exploiting her status as a celebrity.

At the appeal hearing for the robbery and injury case against the suspect, identified only by his surname Kim, held Friday before Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 14-3 — presided over by judges Jeong Gyeong-geun, Lee Hyeong-geun and Lee Hyeon-u — prosecutors made the request, according to Yonhap.

Prosecutors had sought the same 10-year sentence at the first trial, but the court handed down a lighter sentence of seven years.

"Far from showing remorse for his wrongdoing, he has filed a criminal complaint against the victim and continues to make false claims," prosecutors said. "He is perpetuating secondary harm against the victim by exploiting the fact that she is a well-known celebrity." They added that the original sentence was too lenient given the gravity of the offense and Kim's extensive prior criminal record.

Kim's defense attorney, however, said his client "deeply regrets the psychological harm caused to the victims," while arguing that Kim "did not break into the home with the intention of committing robbery from the outset."

The attorney went on to say: "I know it is selfish for a defendant who has committed a crime to ask for leniency, but I earnestly plead for it."

The appeal verdict is scheduled for Oct. 22.

Kim was indicted on charges of breaking into Nana's home in Acheon-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi Province, in the early hours of Nov. 15 last year, armed with a weapon. He allegedly threatened Nana and her mother by choking them and demanded money, but did not succeed.

The first-instance court said Kim "committed the crime by breaking into the victims' home armed with a weapon at night, a time when absolute peace must be preserved," adding that "punishment commensurate with the gravity and seriousness of the offense is unavoidable."


ko@heraldcorp.com