Ahead of the launch of the Public Prosecution Service and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency on October 2, former justice ministers and prosecutors are advocating for the full recognition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights in response to proposed amendments to the criminal procedure law led by the Democratic Party.
On July 15, the Prosecutors' Association, led by former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae, issued a statement asserting, "It is legally inconsistent and potentially unconstitutional to deny investigative rights while recognizing prosecutors' rights to request warrants and prosecute." They expressed their dismay as the country approaches the Constitution Day, which commemorates constitutional amendments.
They further stated, "The requests for warrants and prosecutions are the results of prosecutors' judgments and expressions of their belief in guilt," and criticized the notion of making decisions on cases with insufficient evidence as an unrealistic procedure.
Regarding allegations of police cover-ups in the Jang Yoon-gi case, they questioned, "Who will address the damage caused by the police's biased investigations and cover-ups, given their exclusive investigative authority?"
The association emphasized, "To demand decisions on prosecutions or warrant requests without adequate evidence is absurd," urging lawmakers to make wise decisions to prevent unjust infringements on citizens' rights.
The Prosecutors' Association is a social group for retired prosecutors, with Han Sang-dae, who served as the Director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau and the Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office during the Lee Myung-bak administration, currently serving as its ninth president.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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