Kim Seong-dong, head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection department, raised concerns about a potential conflict of duties regarding the activities of the Prosecutor's Human Rights Respect Future Committee's fact-finding team, which investigates allegations of abuse of investigative authority by prosecutors.
On July 2, legal sources reported that Kim posted on the internal prosecutor network, Ipros, stating, "The activities and duties of the fact-finding team appear to be related to the work of the inspection department," and questioned the legality of excluding the oversight department's guidance and collaboration from the process.
He emphasized, "Investigating allegations of human rights violations or abuse of power by prosecutors is the responsibility of the inspection chief or the human rights policy officer," and noted that the fact-finding team's work should align with the constitutional principles of rule of law by involving the relevant department's guidance and collaboration.
Kim expressed concern that the composition of the fact-finding team might be an attempt to exclude the functions of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection department under the guise of recommendations from the Future Committee, stating, "We cannot help but question the fairness of the team’s composition and the investigation results."
He concluded by expressing hope that the activities and procedures of the fact-finding team would proceed in accordance with the principles of rule of law.
He emphasized, "Investigating allegations of human rights violations or abuse of power by prosecutors is the responsibility of the inspection chief or the human rights policy officer," and noted that the fact-finding team's work should align with the constitutional principles of rule of law by involving the relevant department's guidance and collaboration.
Kim expressed concern that the composition of the fact-finding team might be an attempt to exclude the functions of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection department under the guise of recommendations from the Future Committee, stating, "We cannot help but question the fairness of the team’s composition and the investigation results."
He concluded by expressing hope that the activities and procedures of the fact-finding team would proceed in accordance with the principles of rule of law.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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