Controversial streamer Johnny Somali, real name Ramsey Khalid Ismael, is facing a mandatory prison sentence in South Korea after authorities added a new charge to his case.
A legal expert claims the latest offense ensures jail time, as it carries no option for a fine.
The streamer, notorious for disruptive behavior, has faced multiple charges, including Obstruction of Business and violations of the Minor Crimes Act. His actions have included causing disturbances in public places, using a dead fish to harass passengers, and twerking on a subway.
Now, a fifth charge has been merged into his case—a violation of South Korea’s Special Act on Sexual Violence Crimes due to an AI deepfake video. The video allegedly depicted Korean streamer BongBong in a fabricated intimate scene with Ismael, an act that under Korean law is classified as a sex crime.
Legal analyst Legal Mindset revealed on March 27 that this charge ensures a prison sentence of up to seven years since it involved the distribution of explicit AI-generated content for profit. “In South Korean law, distributing AI content without consent is illegal, and if it involves intimate acts, it qualifies as sexual,” the lawyer explained.
Somali, who appeared in court drunk and wearing a MAGA hat on March 7, is set for another hearing on April 9. His case has sparked widespread backlash, with critics calling for harsher penalties against online harassment and AI deepfake abuse.
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