KOR
▲ National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik submits the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which aims to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, during the third plenary session of the July extraordinary session at the National Assembly on the 30th.
An amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act designed to completely abolish prosecutors' direct investigative powers has been submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly.
The National Assembly brought the Criminal Procedure Act amendment, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, to the plenary session today (the 30th).
Immediately after the bill was submitted, the People Power Party (PPP) requested a filibuster (legal obstruction of legislative proceedings through unlimited debate).
The bill is projected to be processed tomorrow afternoon (the 31st).
The amendment pushed forward by the Democratic Party contains provisions to completely separate investigation from prosecution, thereby blocking prosecutors from conducting direct investigations.
It also abolishes prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights.
However, prosecutors will still be able to request judicial police officers to conduct supplementary investigations.
Upon receiving a request for a supplementary investigation, the police must complete the investigation within one month and notify prosecutors of the results.
If necessary, the investigation period can be extended by up to one month.
All materials produced during the investigation process must be recorded in the Korea Information System for Criminal Justice Services (KICS).
The amendment also includes measures to strengthen the protection of victims.
If the police decide not to forward a case, complainants, victims, and informants will be able to file an objection.
They are also granted the right to inspect and copy case records necessary for filing an objection.
The amendment newly adds cases where an indictment is filed on the grounds of serious illegal investigations as a reason for a court dismissal of the indictment.
Cases where an indictment is filed with a clear abuse of prosecutorial discretion are also included as grounds for dismissal of indictment.
The People Power Party, which has opposed the complete abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, held a rally at the National Assembly prior to the plenary session.
PPP Floor Leader Jung Jeom-sik criticized, saying, "A dirty backside deal between President Lee Jae-myung, who only thinks of ways to eliminate trials, and the hardliners of the Democratic Party, who only think of retaliating against the prosecution, is driving state affairs into ruin."
Floor Leader Jung emphasized, "The supplementary investigation right is not the power of the prosecution."
"It is a means to protect victims and a tool to uncover the truth," he added.
He further stated, "If the abolition of supplementary investigation rights passes the plenary session, President Lee must exercise his veto power."
The Democratic Party plans to initiate procedures to terminate the filibuster 24 hours after it begins, in accordance with the National Assembly Act.
With the consent of at least three-fifths of registered lawmakers, the party intends to end the filibuster and put the bill to a vote tomorrow.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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