The Prosecutors' Alumni Association, a group of retired prosecutors, urged President Lee Jae-myung to exercise his right to request reconsideration of the Criminal Procedure Act amendment bill that abolishes prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority.
On the 2nd, the Prosecutors' Alumni Association issued a statement in the name of Chair Han Sang-dae, saying it "strongly condemns the Democratic Party of Korea's legislative dictatorship that passed the Criminal Procedure Act amendment bill," and stated accordingly.
The Prosecutors' Alumni Association argued, "Despite opposition from the Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution, concerns from the Supreme Court, and the president's expression of opposition, the Democratic Party abruptly passed the Criminal Procedure Act amendment bill that abolishes prosecutors' investigative authority."
It added, "It is a measure that ignored the concerns of crime victims and public opposition without proper deliberation and debate procedures," and "We cannot help but ask who will be responsible for the countless side effects and confusion to come, and for victims' despair and resentment."
It continued, "The president should exercise a veto on this bill according to conviction," and "If the law goes into effect, the Constitutional Court should also determine its constitutionality," it said.
The Prosecutors' Alumni Association also said it would respond together with victims' groups and legal professionals if the president does not exercise the right to request reconsideration. The association said, "We deplore the Democratic Party's legislative outrage and urge the president to make a selfless decision."
The Prosecutors' Alumni Association is a fellowship group of retired prosecution members. Former Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae, who served as director of the Criminal Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Justice and as chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration and served as prosecutor general from 2011 to 2012, is serving as the 9th chair. The association has issued statements on major Ministry of Justice and prosecution issues.
The Criminal Procedure Act amendment bill that passed the National Assembly on the 31st under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea separates investigation and indictment and abolishes prosecutors' direct investigations. It also eliminates prosecutors' supplementary investigation authority, leaving only the authority to request supplementary investigations from judicial police officers.
If the amendment takes effect, prosecutors' investigative authority, which has been recognized since the Criminal Procedure Act was enacted in 1954, will be abolished after 72 years.
Immediately after the bill passed, Acting Prosecutor General Gu Ja-hyun said, "I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act," and offered to resign.