The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, August 18, 2022 | 07:58
Prosecution, police accept compromise on probe rights
Posted : 2011-06-20 19:57
Updated : 2011-06-20 19:57
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam, left, and National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh participate in a special committee at the National Assembly, Monday, to report their compromise on the criminal investigation rights issue to lawmakers. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Police granted partial autonomy in opening criminal investigations

By Kim Tae-jong

The National Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a bill to revise a law to allow police to initiate investigations of certain crimes independent of the prosecution.

The committee’s passage came after the prosecution and police accepted government mediation on the criminal investigation rights issue to end a long-standing dispute, at the eleventh-hour.

According to a compromise put forward by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), both parties agreed to the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The agreement came just hours before a deadline for the submission of the revision bill to the committee.

The two sides had been struggling to narrow their differences, and the government had been trying to mediate since May 30 but it was only when the presidential office joined the mediation Monday that the compromise was struck.

The revision includes granting police partial rights to open criminal investigations into suspects where there is de facto evidence independently of the prosecution.

Currently, only prosecutors have the mandate to launch, supervise and complete investigations and then to indict suspects.

The revision also reflects the prosecution’s position by including articles reinforcing its supervisory rights and stating that police should follow prosecutors’ orders when necessary.

The officials at the PMO said the final recommendation focused on the mechanism of “checks and balances.”

“We tried to allow police the legal grounds to initiate independent investigations with the prosecution maintaining its authority to supervise,” Rim Chae-min, chief of staff to the PMO, said during a news briefing.

But Rim denied speculation that they had discussed exceptions of specific cases into which the police cannot initiate investigation such as violations of the Election and National Security Laws.

The friction between police and the prosecution over criminal investigation rights has been long-standing.

The former has long called for the right to initiate and proceed with investigations as well as for the abolishment of a clause obliging them to follow the instructions of prosecutors. On the other hand, the prosecution has opposed police demands, arguing that sharing the rights over investigations would compromise its ability to supervise inquiries.

Overall, prosecutors welcomed the revision of the law but took a careful stance on its application.

“There is a possibility of abuse of authority by the police,” a prosecutor said. “So, it is important how to apply the law to supervise them.”

Police were also generally satisfied with the revision, which specifies their rights for independent investigation, but many officers expressed their disappointment, saying nothing much has been changed under the condition of “prosecutors’ supervision.”

“It’s meaningless as we are not allowed much autonomy if prosecutors can keep ordering what we should do,” one officer said.
Emaile3dward@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Samsung's defective washing machine fans consumer concerns
  • [INTERVIEW] Moon rallies int'l support for unification of two Koreas
  • Standard Chartered Bank chief to visit Seoul in late August
  • Yoon confident about Korea hosting World Expo 2030
  • 'Labor law should be changed in line with Fourth Industrial Revolution'
  • Envoy raises awareness of Korea among Serbian public
  • [INTERVIEW] Data essential for 'evidence-based decisions': Statistics Korea commissioner
  • Yoon opposes forceful change to status quo in North Korea
  • Korea urged to overhaul pension, tax systems to cope with rapidly-aging population
  • What polls don't say about Yoon
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert 2PM's Lee Jun-ho proves versatility at 'Before Midnight' concert
    • 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor 'Confidential Assignment 2' has even more action, humor
    • [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers [INTERVIEW] Director of 'A Model Family' on blending Korean and European-style thrillers
    • Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India Thriller series 'Flower Of Evil' becomes first K-drama to be remade in India
    • 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo' to be made into musicals in 2024
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group