[Anchor]
A bill to abolish the supplementary investigation authority of the prosecution was introduced today (July 8) at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the ruling party. However, concerns were raised even within the ruling party regarding the need for oversight mechanisms for the police, following allegations of a cover-up in the Jang Yun-gi case.
Reporter Son Hyeong-an has the story.
[Reporter]
The plenary session of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee was held this afternoon, attended only by lawmakers from the pan-ruling bloc.
Allegations of a police cover-up regarding the Jang Yun-gi case, involving the murder of a high school girl, were brought to the table.
[Kim Nam-hee / Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker: I was deeply shocked. Minister, a situation where the family of a criminal colludes with the police investigating the case to destroy and discard evidence...]
[Jeong Seong-ho / Minister of Justice: It was a highly unusual and truly shocking case.]
The Democratic Party has emphasized that while it intends to abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority, it will strengthen the effectiveness of the "right to request supplementary investigations" to prevent shoddy police work.
[Seo Young-kyo / Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker): In the process of police corruption and irregularities being exposed to the world, the victim was left feeling even more aggrieved. We have disciplined the police officers and replaced the investigators.]
Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho stated that a significant number of cases in which the prosecution requested supplementary investigations from the police are being delayed, and requested that the National Assembly establish practical means of control.
Regarding claims that the prosecution is using this case to maintain its supplementary investigation authority, which is on the verge of being abolished, Minister Jeong replied that such claims are groundless.
[Jeong Seong-ho / Minister of Justice: There are 11 cases that were not handled properly at the police stage and required supplementation at the prosecution stage. It is not just one or two.]
The amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, proposed by some lawmakers from the pan-ruling bloc with the main goal of abolishing the supplementary investigation authority, was introduced to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee today.
Lawmakers from the People Power Party, who are boycotting the National Assembly's standing committee schedule in protest of the Democratic Party's unilateral formation of the assembly, held a fierce protest in front of the meeting room, demanding an end to the abolition of the supplementary investigation authority.
[Kwak Gyu-taek / People Power Party lawmaker: Abolishing supplementary investigations will allow criminals to roam freely!]
As the Democratic Party plans to propose an amendment to abolish the supplementary investigation authority within this week, political controversy is expected to intensify further.
(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Won Hyeong-hee)
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