The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Trainee tempted Big Bang’s T.O.P to smoke marijuana — lawyer

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SEOUL: T.O.P, a member of a South Korean idol group Big Bang, has pleaded guilty to drug abuse charges in a trial at the Seoul Central District Court.

Soompi.com reported that the rapper’s lawyer mentioned during the trial that T.O.P had dated a trainee singer involved in the case, explaining that T.O.P had been psychologi­cally unstable at the time and had met the trainee for drinks. “He was very intoxicate­d at the time and decided impulsivel­y (to smoke marijuana). He admits to all the charges and is very remorseful for his actions,” said the lawyer.

“T.O.P acted the way he did following the trainee’s suggestion­s after drinking. After breaking up with the trainee, T.O.P stopped smoking marijuana,” added the lawyer.

In response to questions regarding the lawyer’s statement, South Korean entertainm­ent company YG Entertainm­ent said that besides what had been released from the court, it was “difficult to confirm anything.”

Meanwhile, it was reported that the oldest member of Big Bang had read out a written apology in front of the press during the day of the trial. In the statement, the singer-songwriter said he wanted to escape from himself as he experience­d depression and severe anxiety disorder. “My disorderly state of mind led to impulsive wrongdoing and an irrevocabl­e mistake, and I have disappoint­ed many people,” he said.

The marijuana case has seen T.O.P suspended from his post as a conscripte­d policeman, a post assigned to the 29-year-old as his mandatory military service. The law stipulates suspension for police conscripts indicted for criminal charges.

T.O.P was reported to have smoked marijuana three times with the 21-year-old female singer trainee, identified by her surname Han, at his residence in Seoul last October.

 ?? — AFP photo ?? T.O.P (Centre) arrives at a court to attend his trial on charges of smoking marijuana in Seoul last month.
— AFP photo T.O.P (Centre) arrives at a court to attend his trial on charges of smoking marijuana in Seoul last month.

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