By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) is trying to pass legislation to allow police to investigate criminal cases but the plan may not get momentum as the governing party is still skeptical.

Currently, only prosecutors are entitled to investigate criminal cases and the police are involved in investigations only under the supervision of prosecutors.

The revision bill aims to reduce the prosecution's jurisdiction by limiting the roles of prosecutors in criminal investigations to secondary ones.

This week, Rep. Kim Hee-chul of the DP submitted the bill to the National Assembly that would replace the current criminal procedure law if passed.

Rep. Kim, an architect of the bill, told The Korea Times that the measure was the outcome of DP leaders' deepening worries over the way prosecutors handled the cases involving opposition politicians such as the late former President Roh Moo-hyun.

"Since last year, inside the DP there have been growing worries over the way prosecutors deal with such cases. We share the concern that too many political factors played out in the investigations," said Kim.

Under the proposal, the police will play a primary role in investigating criminal cases and prosecutors will be allowed to do so only when necessary.

Prosecutors opposed the plan as it would significantly weaken their role.

A similar plan was sought in 2005, but failed to be put into effect.

The DP decided to try to pass the measure again after Roh committed suicide in the middle of a bribery scandal investigation involving him and his family. DP lawmakers claimed that the investigation was politically motivated, which led to Roh's suicide.

DP leaders also argued prosecutors used double standards to investigate bribery scandals. They claimed camp politicians and their relatives were forgiven while opposition politicians received undeserved harsher punishment.

The question is whether the alleged double standard problem will disappear if the police are empowered to share investigative power with the prosecution.

Instead of giving a definite answer to the question, Kim said he would wait-and-see what happens when the debate starts.

"As we submitted the bill to the National Assembly, the standing committee members will review it to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee if bipartisan agreement is made," he said.

"Experts will present their views and thoughts about the measure during hearings."

Chances for the revision bill passing the National Assembly are uncertain as the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) has not responded to the measure yet.

The DP has 87 out of the 299-member seats in the National Assembly, indicating that it has to win the hearts of other minor parties as well as some ruling party lawmakers to pass the measure.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr