Taeil (real name Moon Taeil), 31, former member of K-pop boy band NCT, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for aggravated rape in South Korea on July 10.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the decision against Taeil and his accomplices surnamed Lee and Hong who also received a sentence of imprisonment of three and a half years. The three were taken into custody after the sentencing.

In addition, the court also ordered them to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and barred them from working at any institution related to children, adolescents, or the disabled for five years.

“The defendants are found guilty of special rape. Considering that the victim was intoxicated and unable to resist, the nature of the crime is very serious. The victim is a foreign tourist and suffered great mental distress as a result of the crime committed in an unfamiliar place,” the court ruled, Korean media report.

The prosecution earlier asked the court to impose imprisonment of seven years against the three.

In sentencing the accused, the court said, “The defendants are first-time offenders, have admitted to all of their crimes, and have reached an agreement with the victim who do not wish for punishment. Considering these, we are reducing the sentence.”

The three were indicted for sexually assaulting an intoxicated female Chinese tourist at about 4 a.m. at Lee’s residence in Bangbae, Seocho, Seoul on June 13 last year.

Last June 18, the court held the first trial for the three who faced aggravated rape charges under the Korean law Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Article 4 (aggravated rape) of the law states that “a person who commits a crime prescribed in Article 297 [rape] of the Criminal Act, carrying any weapon or other dangerous object or jointly with any other persons, shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for an indefinite term or for at least seven years,” according to the Korea Legislation Research Institute.

Korean media reported that according to the prosecution, at about 2:33 a.m. on June 13 last year, they met the female tourist by chance at a bar in Itaewon, Seoul and drank together. They brought her in a taxi to Lee’s residence and committed the crime.

When morning came, they sent the victim away in a taxi.

The Seoul Bangbae Police Station identified the individuals through investigations and CCTV analysis, and executed a search and seizure warrant at their residence.

After this, Lee and Hong submitted their letters of surrender on Aug. 20 last year and Taeil submitted his on Aug. 28.

On the same day that Taeil submitted the letter, SM Entertainment, NCT’s agency, announced his expulsion from the K-pop group.

“We have recently learned that Taeil has been accused in a criminal case related to a sexual crime. While assessing the facts, we recognized the gravity of the matter and decided that he could no longer continue his team activities. After discussing it with Taeil, we decided to have him leave the team. Taeil is currently cooperating faithfully with the police investigation, and we will provide additional information as the investigation progresses. We deeply apologize for the controversy caused by our artist,” it said.