Despite DP's Supplementary Measures for Abolition, Concerns Pour In: "Still Problematic"

[Anchor]

The Democratic Party is pushing to completely abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers. However, at a seminar hosted by a Democratic Party lawmaker held today (July 23) at the National Assembly, a wave of concerns was raised, warning that it would create obstacles to uncovering the true nature of crimes and force victims to run around gathering evidence themselves.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Rather than completely abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers, the Democratic Party is reviewing alternative measures. These include allowing crime victims to request a change of investigators or the reassignment of investigative departments within 14 days if they file an objection regarding an investigation, and having other investigative agencies—such as higher-level investigative bodies or a serious crime investigation agency—conduct reinvestigations upon a prosecutor's request for supplementary investigation.

The party explains that reinforcing the power to request supplementary investigations is intended to dispel concerns about its abolition.

[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: The time has come to put a full stop to intense debate and deliberation.]

However, at a National Assembly seminar hosted by Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ki-won, who opposes complete abolition, crime victims voiced deep concerns, urging, "Do not end discussions while leaving behind merely a formal procedure that you listened to opinions."

[Victim of Busan Roundhouse Kick Case: To me, having lost my memory, (the police) asked, 'Do you think you were a victim of sexual assault?' When I said, 'Probably not,' they just let it pass. It was the prosecutors' supplementary investigation that changed that case to attempted murder involving rape.]

Concerns were raised that the complete abolition of supplementary investigation powers could delay case processing,

[Kim Sang-chul / Bereaved Family Member of Late Film Director Kim Chang-min: (The case) gets passed from detective division 1 to division 2, from team 1 to team 2. The prosecutors repeatedly told them, 'Do it again, do it again,' three times.]

and that victims' right to object alone would be insufficient to prevent the side effects of abolition.

[Kwak A-ram / Chosun Ilbo Reporter (Victim of Stalking Crime): It might sound as simple as saying, 'I object,' but you have to systematically analyze why the police decision not to forward a case was wrong under the laws and regulations and submit documents. Why should the victim have to go through this when a prosecutor reviewing it one more time would finish it?]

Participants at the seminar also unanimously criticized the deadline requiring the police to finish supplementary investigations within a month after receiving such a request.

[Crime Victim: If we only pressure front-line police officers who are gasping for breath due to staff shortages and heavy workloads with a strict deadline, what will happen? They will issue perfunctory non-indictment dispositions...]

Participants appealed that "this amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act must focus on the substantive and swift recovery of victims."

(Photo courtesy of Kim Yong-woo | Video edited by Park Sun-soo | Design by Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.