Police chief in hot seat

Officers threaten action against probe adjustment plan

By Na Jeong-ju

Police chief Cho Hyun-oh is facing mounting calls to step down over the government-administered plan to strengthen the prosecution’s supervision of police officers and reduce the scope of independent investigations by the latter.

An increasing number of officers, frustrated by the move announced Wednesday, are directing their anger at Cho and his aides at the National Police Agency (NPA), saying they should be held responsible for the failure to strengthen their investigation rights in the measure.

Some officers raised speculation that the Lee Myung-bak administration sided with the prosecution for its lenient handling of alleged corruption cases involving presidential aides as well as Lee’s only son Si-hyung.

Under the plan, officers will be banned from detaining suspects, tracing bank accounts and conducting raids without instructions from prosecutors. Police can ask the prosecution to reconsider their instructions if they are deemed unreasonable and unfair.

Cho himself strongly protested the plan, but many officers are turning their back on him.

“I want to ask high-ranking officers if they did their best to represent our voices in the negotiations over investigation rights,” said a message posted by an officer at a website for policemen and their family members. “If he didn’t know what would happen, he was stupid and incompetent. If he did know, he should apologize to us. He should step down, whatever.”

The posting was supported by hundreds of members.

An NPA website for internal communication between officers was also filled with messages criticizing the prosecution, the administration and senior officers.

Some proposed nationwide protests to nullify the plan.

“There are more than 100,000 police officers in this country. The number of those who work as officers and their families exceeds 3 million. We must show our strength by taking collective action,” an officer said.

Some other officers urged their colleagues not to vote for candidates from the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) in next year’s parliamentary and presidential elections.

GNP also lukewarm

The Prime Minister’s Office said the government will enforce the measures beginning Jan. 1 next year after getting endorsement from the Cabinet, but the ruling party is raising objections amid the fierce backlash from police.

“It’s not right to push for the plan, which is not supported by police officers. The government should reconsider it and find a better solution,” GNP Chairman Hong Joon-pyo said during a party meeting Thursday.

Some officers alleged that the plan to strengthen prosecutors’ overseeing of police was the result of “political bargaining” between the prosecution and the presidential office.

“There is rampant speculation among police officers that the prosecution may go easy on corruption suspicions against President Lee’s son,” an NPA official said.

The junior Lee is now facing summons over allegations that he attempted to buy a property in southern Seoul under a secret deal with Cheong Wa Dae to use as a retirement residence for his father.

The main opposition Democratic Party sued Lee Si-hyung, presidential chief of staff Yim Tae-hee and three others last month for their alleged violation of property transaction laws.