Amendment to Abolish Prosecutors' Supplementary Investigation Rights Pushed; All-Night Filibuster Countered

[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 rights. The pan-ruling bloc is expected to end the filibuster this afternoon (July 31) and pass the bill.

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

[Reporter]

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

The current Article 196, which stipulates prosecutors' direct investigation rights, has been completely deleted in this amendment. Furthermore, prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights have been abolished, leaving only the authority to request supplementary investigations.

A comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system on this scale is happening for the first time in 72 years.

The Democratic Party praised the amendment, stating that the Criminal Procedure Act is putting 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, arguing that without prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, the truth behind the "Jang Yoon-gi case" would never have been uncovered, and urged President Lee Jae-myung to exercise his veto power.

In response, the People Power Party launched a filibuster to block the bill, starting with six-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young, the party's most senior member.

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

This filibuster is expected to continue until this afternoon, with Democratic Party lawmakers taking turns with supportive speeches and People Power Party lawmakers giving opposing speeches.

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

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