Ruling Bloc Pushes Through Criminal Procedure Act Revision to Abolish Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Power Amid Overnight Filibuster

[Anchor]

At the National Assembly, an unlimited debate, or filibuster, is currently underway regarding the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, which completely eliminates prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers. The ruling-leaning bloc is expected to terminate the filibuster this afternoon (July 31) and pass the bill.

For our first news item today, here is reporter Son Hyeong-an.

[Reporter]

The Criminal Procedure Act amendment, which the Democratic Party describes as the "completion of prosecution reform," was submitted to the National Assembly plenary session yesterday afternoon (July 30) under the leadership of the ruling-leaning bloc.

The revised Criminal Procedure Act completely deletes Article 196 of the current act, which stipulates prosecutors' direct investigation powers, and abolishes prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, leaving only the right to request supplementary investigations.

This marks the first full-scale overhaul of the criminal justice system in 72 years.

The Democratic Party praised the revision, stating that the Criminal Procedure Act has put on a new garment aimed at promoting public rights and interests and guaranteeing human rights.

[Kim Seung-won / Democratic Party Lawmaker: This is content aimed at strengthening the guarantee of public human rights and expanding the procedural rights of crime victims as well.]

The People Power Party raised its voice, claiming that without prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, the truth behind the "Jang Yoon-ki case" would never have been uncovered, and urged President Lee Jae-myung to exercise his veto power.

Consequently, the People Power Party entered into a filibuster to block the bill, starting with six-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young, the most senior member of the party.

[Joo Ho-young / People Power Party Lawmaker: Ordinary citizens who have been defrauded, vulnerable people who have been assaulted, abused children, and young people who have lost their jeonse deposits will bear the full burden of the damage.]

This filibuster is expected to continue until this afternoon, with alternating supportive debates by Democratic Party lawmakers and opposition debates by People Power Party lawmakers.

Although the People Power Party is raising its voice that the complete stripping of prosecutorial authority will intensify the suffering of crime victims, 24 hours after the start of the filibuster, the ruling-leaning bloc, which holds a majority of seats, can forcibly terminate it through a vote. Therefore, the Criminal Procedure Act amendment is scheduled to pass the National Assembly plenary session around 4:00 PM today.

(Video Shooting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing: Nam Il)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.