The Seoul Western District Court on Wednesday said it had sentenced a top fashion designer to 8 months in jail, suspended for two years, and 40 hours of substance abuse treatment for injecting methamphetamine.

The 49-year-old designer, who is currently a full-time professor at a technical college, was indicted last year in July for allegedly injecting the drug with an unidentified person at a motel in Seodaemun-gu, northwestern Seoul. 



The designer bought the drug via a mobile messaging app in October of 2016. Police said they found the suspect in possession of a meth-filled syringe at a hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul last year in August.

During the course of trial, it has come to light that the suspect had also hidden a plastic bag filled with philopon on top of his closet at home, court officials said.

The suspect does not have a record of prior convictions for drug possession or use, authorities said.

By Catherine Chung (cec82@heraldcorp.com)