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Controversy surrounds streamer Johnny Somali, who may face serious repercussions following his guilty pleas in South Korea, according to a legal specialist.
Johnny Somali gained notoriety during his live broadcasts across South Korea, which featured alarming behavior, including inappropriate interactions with the Statue of Peace, a memorial dedicated to survivors of wartime sexual slavery.
Throughout his streams, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, he allegedly engaged in various unlawful acts, including broadcasting North Korean propaganda, creating deepfake videos of fellow streamer BongBong, violating public transport laws, and making threats against female streamers.
To date, Ismael has admitted guilt to charges of Obstruction of Business for causing disruptions at a 7-Eleven and two violations under the Minor Crimes Act for disturbing bus passengers with a dead fish, alongside inappropriate behavior on the subway.
In addition, he faces another charge of Obstruction of Business, which could carry a maximum penalty of up to ten years in prison and a fine exceeding $10,000 USD.
Despite Somali’s casual demeanor, demonstrated by attending court inebriated and wearing a MAGA hat, legal expert Kim Ju-hyeong from Majung Law Firm indicated that prison time remains a possibility.
Potential Jail Time for Johnny Somali Before Deportation
In an interview with the Korea Herald, Kim outlined that Somali could face deportation as a result of his actions, but not before potentially serving time in a South Korean prison based on his sentencing.
“Foreigners are often required to leave the country if they incur fines exceeding 3 million won (around $2,058) due to their criminal activities. Given the gravity of Ismael’s charges, it is unlikely he will receive a less severe penalty,” Kim stated.
In the event of a custodial sentence, he would serve his time in prison before being transferred to an immigration facility.
“Individuals facing deportation due to illegal actions typically find themselves banned from re-entering the country for a designated period, which varies according to the severity of their offenses,” he added.
Additional Legal Challenges for Johnny Somali
Beyond the existing charges, Somali may encounter further legal troubles. During one of his inebriated streams, he accidentally disclosed that he faces a sex crime allegation in a different district.
According to commentary from YouTube attorney Legal Mindset, the case has already been forwarded to the prosecution by law enforcement.
(Segment begins at 15:40)
Legal Mindset noted, “It was revealed that in the Eastern district, there’s a fifth charge pending, which has yet to be officially confirmed by prosecutors.”
As Ismael has already pled guilty to other offenses, this status could lead to significant jail time should he be convicted on the emerging charges related to the deepfakes.
Simultaneously, Somali has claimed that he attempted to initiate legal action against BongBong, after she published a deepfake portraying herself in an intimate situation with him.
“If I go down, you’re going down too!” he proclaimed.
The situation has sparked confusion, raising questions about accountability in a context where he seems to deflect responsibility onto BongBong.
The future could hold more trials for Somali, with new charges on the horizon, suggesting that his departure from South Korea may be delayed considerably.
Public sentiment in South Korea appears to lean toward establishing a precedent to deter similar disruptive behaviors among streamers.
Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University, expressed hope for a thorough and fair judicial outcome that could prevent future incidents of this nature.
“A strong penalty is necessary to set a standard moving forward,” Seo emphasized.
The situation has also led to independent actions, as exemplified by an encounter with a former Navy SEAL who confronted Somali, resulting in a knockout caught on video.
Johnny Somali is scheduled to return to court on April 9.
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