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A former member of KAT-TUN, an all-male idol group, arrested on Feb 24 on suspicion of violating the Stimulants Control Law, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for three years.
The Nagoya District Court handed down its ruling on Monday against Koki Tanaka, 36, Kyodo News reported.
After Tanaka checked out of his hotel room in Nagoya on Jan 30, around 0.164 grams of methamphetamine were found by a cleaning worker. Following his arrest, Tanaka denied possessing any drugs, but he subsequently admitted to the charge and said the methamphetamine was his. At the time, he was in Nagoya for a live concert and was staying at the business hotel.
Tanaka was a member of KAT-TUN from 2001 until 2013. He was arrested once before, in May 2017, for possession of marijuana but was not indicted.
Presiding Judge Fumiaki Hiraki handed Tanaka a suspended sentence, saying that the singer had shown regret for his actions, but urged him to seek help in order to stay off drugs.
© Japan Today
12 Comments
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virusrex
Not surprising since he is a celebrity. If he were just some random guy he would very likely spend a significant amount of time behind bars, no matter how much regret was shown.
NipponGlory
Troublemaker if you ask me
garypen
The judge?
didou
Certainly not. It would have been the same.
It is always a suspended sentence for consumption as a first or second offense when the found amount is very low.
dan
Suspended sentence.
Got off well lightly there pal.
Nuno Teixeira da Cunha
1.30h jumping and singing loud must need some extra energy, 1500mg of vitamine C is already enouf to feel your pain in the chest and do it better than with that discusting low value men substance, his agent is responsible too.
tamanegi
Should have been given the full 20 month sentence minimum.
BeerDeliveryGuy
I know many people, “gaijins” included who got off with suspended sentences for drug offenses.
Jail sentences are usually only for dealers and smugglers, ot when the possessed amount is significant.
Strangerland
Not surprising if he wasn't a celebrity. Over 80% of first time drug possession offenses in Japan result in a suspended sentence. They only imprison for first offense if there are extenuating circumstances. Being famous is not an extenuating circumstance.
smithinjapan
The land of suspended sentences... so long as you're a celebrity, police, or a politician. And this is his second arrest for drugs, too!
Strangerland
Or a civilian.
Should Japan be more like America and imprison people for anything? Do you feel that imprisoning people for a health issue (drugs) is beneficial to society?
shogun36
*He was arrested once before, in May 2017, for possession of marijuana but *was not indicted.
*Presiding Judge Fumiaki Hiraki handed Tanaka a suspended sentence, saying that the singer had shown regret for his actions, but urged him to seek help in order to stay off drugs.*
Apparently not.