A client in South Korea was booked for violating the Narcotics Control Act after allegedly sending payment from a virtual-asset exchange to a seller’s wallet and collecting cannabis hidden in a residential alley, completing two cannabis purchases and attempting the same method a third time but failing when no cannabis was found.[1] The client admitted all of the charges, while the investigative agency viewed the repeated purchases as a matter that could not be treated lightly.[1]
The issue in the case was whether a purchase case, which is treated more seriously than simple smoking, could avoid a formal trial.[1] The defence highlighted that the client had fully confessed to the alleged facts and showed remorse.[1] The defence asked for the client’s first-offender status with no record of punishment, together with the motive, age and circumstances after the offence, to be taken into account.[1] The defence argued that a narcotics education programme would be more effective than criminal punishment in preventing reoffending.[1]
Prosecutors granted deferred prosecution on condition that the client complete a drug-prevention education programme, so the client was not sent to trial.[1]
