10 police stations reject prosecution orders
By Na Jeong-ju
An increasing number of police officers are refusing to follow investigation orders from prosecutors as the conflict between the two law-enforcement bodies over investigation rights escalates further.
According to police, up to 10 police stations nationwide have rejected instructions from prosecutors to open preliminary probes into possible criminal cases since the disputed new investigation rules took effect on Jan. 1.
Last month, the Cabinet approved the revision to strengthen the supervision of police detectives by prosecutors on criminal investigations despite a wave of protest from police.
The “revolt” by police officers demonstrates their collective anger toward the revision. The police stations that spurned the prosecution’s orders are located in major cities nationwide, including Seoul, Daegu, Incheon, Daejeon and Jeonju.
On Tuesday, the Incheon Nambu Police Station rejected a request from a prosecutor to transport a criminal suspect.
Police had previously conducted preliminary probes at the request of prosecutors before launching formal investigations. The change in stance could deal a setback to the prosecution in gathering information on possible criminal cases. The prosecution has remained silent in response.
The National Police Agency (NPA) said it told regional offices last month not to follow instructions from prosecutors regarding the preliminary work.
Under the revised rules, prosecutors can direct police detectives only after launching a formal investigation based on complaints. “They have no rights to supervise preliminary probes by police,” an NPA spokesman said.
A number of police officers have quit and thousands of others have returned their handcuffs in protest of the revision.
Observers say the rift could deepen further as police are demanding rights to conduct independent probes without intervention from the prosecution. Senior officers have vowed to seek another revision of the rules.
Before the revision, police were able to open and proceed with investigations without instructions from prosecutors on certain cases. They could gather intelligence, trace bank accounts, question suspects as well as conduct raids.
Police are now banned from engaging in such activities without permission from prosecutors. The government, instead, set up measures to enable police to reject instructions from the prosecution if they are deemed unreasonable and unfair in a bid to prevent prosecutors from abusing their authority.