By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The Justice Ministry announced Tuesday that under revised laws that went into effect Tuesday, the statute of limitations for crimes punishable by the death penalty will be extended by 10 years to 25 years.
In addition, the period limiting prosecution for crimes that could warrant life imprisonment was extended to 15 years from 10 years ― and that leading to 10 years in prison will be extended to 10 years from seven years.
The extended statute of limitations period reflects development in the forensic investigation of criminal cases, which allows police to hunt for criminals when concrete evidence comes to light despite the passage of time.
``Previously, the police had trouble finding decisive evidence on crimes that took place a long time ago. As new investigation techniques emerge, however, the demand for extending the statute of limitations is rising,'' the ministry said. ``This extension will help stem felonious crimes.''
The government has also introduced a new advisory team to assist in the fight against crimes in the high-tech sector, international financings and other new businesses. ``From this year, judges and prosecutors will be able to seek advice from experts in diverse industries during trials and investigations,'' it said.