▲ Supreme Prosecutors' Office
Former Ministers of Justice and Prosecutors General have voiced their opposition to the proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which would fully abolish the prosecution's investigative powers, calling it "absurd."
The Prosecutors' Alumni Association and like-minded former Justice Ministers and Prosecutors General issued a statement today (July 15), asserting that "the prosecutors' authority for supplementary investigation must be fully recognized."
The association stated, "Recognizing the prosecutors' right to request warrants and their power to indict while denying the investigation that accompanies them is not only legally inconsistent but also carries the potential for unconstitutionality under the current Constitution." They added, "We cannot help but feel devastated at this time, just before Constitution Day, which commemorates the establishment of our Constitution."
They further criticized the proposal, stating, "The request for a warrant and the filing of an indictment are the results of a prosecutor's judgment and an expression of the prosecutor's conviction regarding guilt," and added, "Making decisions on cases while evidence regarding the truth of the matter is insufficient is an unrealistic procedure."
Referring to the recent allegations of police covering up the Jang Yoon-ki case, they pointed out, "Who will resolve the damage caused by investigations that protect their own or distorted investigations by the police, who hold exclusive investigative powers?"
The association also urged, "It is absurd to demand that decisions on indictments or warrant requests be made without supplementary measures when evidence is insufficient," and requested, "We ask the members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to make a wise decision to prevent the unfair infringement of the people's rights and interests."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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