New twist in dispute over probe rules

GNP head backs police in investigative powers row with prosecution


The long drawn-out conflict between police and prosecutors over investigative powers took a new twist Tuesday after the prosecutor-turned-chief of the ruling party sided with police, opposing a government plan to give prosecutors greater supervisory power in investigations.

Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, chairman of the Grand National Party, expressed concerns to President Lee Myung-bak during their meeting Monday that the plan would give prosecutors too much power over police, local reports said.

“Police should retain full authority regarding the opening and closing of a preliminary investigation at least,” the politician was quoted as saying.

Hong’s remarks offered a ray of hope to police officers around the country who had turned in their handcuffs, demonstrating their resistance to new rules devised by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Last week, the PMO revealed a draft presidential ordinance on criminal investigation procedures which would open the way for prosecutors to reinvestigate some cases even after they are closed by police. The revision would effectively put preliminary investigations by police under prosecutors’ review.

Cho Hyun-oh, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, declared that he would not accept the plan, saying it was biased against the police.

Reforming the way criminal investigations are conducted has been a long drawn-out issue, often leading to turf wars between the two law enforcement authorities.

Parliamentarians had tried to tackle the issue, but their special committee ended its term with little progress, as it faced strong resistance from both prosecutors and police.

Hong’s remarks, however, were seen as aimed at restarting political efforts for judicial reform.

A GNP insider said the party would push to come up with their own alternative to the PMO’s plan and present it to the presidential office.

GNP Rep. Joo Sung-young said he agreed with his party chief that the PMO’s proposal has problems.

“On the matter of police-prosecution investigative rights, the (special) committee (on judicial reforms) had three principles. They are: The committee reconfirms the prosecution’s supervisory role over police in criminal investigations; police should have rights to start an investigation on their own; and that police should be recognized as a main body in criminal investigations,” said the lawmaker who chaired the special committee.

GNP Rep. Son Beom-gyu, another committee member, said the parliament should revive efforts to deal with the controversy.

“I think the committee should be formed again as soon as possible. It is wrong not to act at this point of time,” he said.

Against this backdrop, a group of lawmakers from the GNP and other political parties heard opinions from representatives of the police and prosecution about the controversial change at a debate session held at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Nearly a thousand frontline police officers showed up at the session in a show of their resistance to the proposal.

By Lee Sun-young
 (milaya@heraldcorp.com)