President and Justice Ministry Hold a Heated Debate Over the Criminal Procedure Act Amendment
We examine the issue of prosecutors' direct investigative powers, the points of contention since the revised Criminal Procedure Act, and the reorganization of the joint investigation unit. Also check the points for supplementing the system and the concentration of police authority.
On the 5th, President Lee Jaemyung asked for opinions during 업무 reports from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Government Legislation, and the National Police Agency regarding issues surrounding prosecutors' direct investigative authority and the operation of joint investigation headquarters after the revised Criminal Procedure Act took effect.
The President closely checked whether prosecutors' investigative actions are explicitly prohibited by law, or whether their legal basis has simply disappeared, and also pointed out that authority could become excessively concentrated in the police.
The Ministry of Justice explained that if prosecutors directly participate in investigations, disputes could arise over procedural illegality, and that the various joint task forces currently in operation would be difficult to maintain as they are after the law takes effect. The Ministry of Government Legislation interpreted the intent of the revised law as the separation of investigation and prosecution maintenance.
The President instructed officials to review in advance plans to restructure the existing joint task forces in the process of preparing to introduce the Serious Crimes Investigation Office. He also raised the need to supplement the system's operation, asking about countermeasures for whether the police's closing of cases could lead to the concealment of cases.