Democratic Party Proposes Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to Abolish Prosecutors’ Supplemental Investigation Authority

The Democratic Party of Korea submitted a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act to the National Assembly on the 9th that includes eliminating prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority. The bill reflects a direction of unifying investigative authority under judicial police officers. This proposal includes, instead of deleting prosecutors' direct investigative authority and supplementary investigative authority, a provision allowing prosecutors to request the police in writing to conduct supplementary investigations by specifying the target and reason if they determine that such an investigation is necessary. The police must then carry out the supplementary investigation and inform the prosecutor of the results. It also includes followup procedures, such as requiring the police, upon receiving a request for supplementary investigation, to complete the investigation within one month, and allowing prosecutors to request the replacement of the officer in charge if the request is not carried out. The Democratic Party plans to review this bill on the 10th at the subcommittee of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.