Key Takeaways
- Johnny Somali faces serious charges in South Korea, including a Minor Crimes Act violation.
- Possible charges include obstruction of work/business, breaking anti-terrorism laws, and violation of national railway laws.
- The streamer’s trial is set for December 20, 2024, and he faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
South Korea has levied another charge against former YouTube streamer Johnny Somali as he prepares for trial on December 20. Ramsey Khalid Ismael, known on YouTube and other social media sites as Johnny Somali, made a somewhat unpopular name for himself beginning in 2023. The content creator, who is a self-proclaimed internet troll, visited multiple countries and livestreamed himself engaging in intentionally provocative, offensive, and racist behavior.
Somali first drew attention when he visited Japan in 2023 and broadcast himself taunting residents, making bomb threats while on a train, and openly making insensitive comments about Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Fukushima. He even taunted other IRL streamers, and his various actions resulted in him getting banned from YouTube, Twitch, and Kick. Johnny Somali’s behavior drew the ire of locals and viewers alike, and he was arrested twice in Japan, ordered to pay a fine, and then returned to the US. He subsequently traveled to Thailand, Israel, Indonesia, and later South Korea, where he was arrested again.
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On October 26, the streamer was taken into custody in South Korea and was indicted for multiple offenses on November 11. It’s unclear what precisely he’s been charged with, as different sources are claiming different things, but the prosecutors have just added Violation of the Minor Crimes Act to the list. CNN also confirmed with prosecutors that Somali has been “indicted of causing a ‘commotion’ at a convenience store.”
What Are the Charges Against Johnny Somali in South Korea?
Other possible charges against the content creator include obstruction of work/business, violation of national railway laws, and breaking anti-terrorism laws for stating he had a bomb on a train. Previously, it was believed that Johnny Somali could be facing up to 10 years in prison; CNN states that for the crime of causing a commotion alone, the streamer could receive five years if convicted. Somali has requested a public defender, and it’s worth pointing out that, according to YouTuber The Legal Mindset, one of the prosecutors on the case has over a 90% conviction rate.
The first phase of Johnny Somali’s trial has been set to begin on December 20, 2024, in Seoul. Those who hope to get an inside gander at the proceedings will be a bit disappointed, as there is no recording allowed inside the courtroom.
While Johnny Somali is currently prohibited from leaving South Korea, he is not locked up. He has been seen out and about in Seoul, on the train, wearing a MAGA hat. Up until the end of November, the content creator had not been banned from TikTok, and he recently posted a video on the platform of himself hanging out with multiple young Koreans. In it, he called himself an influencer of the “Youth of Korea” and “a freedom fighter for freedom of speech and expression.” Somali then wrote, “Show this to the Judge and the Prosecutor! There will always be new Johnny Somali’s even when I leave!” His TikTok account was banned shortly thereafter, leaving him now with only a Rumble account to stream from.