ID :
192078
Thu, 06/30/2011 - 14:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/192078
The shortlink copeid
Parliament passes disputed judicial reform bill
(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 6-7; CHANGES para 8)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly passed a contentious bill on redefining investigative rights of the prosecution and police on Thursday despite strong protests from prosecutors over a last-minute revision that could restrict their control of police investigations.
The criminal code revision bill centers on empowering police to open investigations on their own under the broad supervision of prosecutors. It provides legal grounds for the reality in which most criminal probes are actually launched by police officers first and then sent to prosecutors for indictment.
That was in line with an agreement that the prosecution and police reached last week after long negotiations. But the problem arose when the parliament's judicial committee revised details of the agreement on Tuesday in a way that prosecutors believe restricts their oversight of police investigations.
The original bill had stipulated that details on the prosecution's oversight of police probes will be determined by a justice ministerial decree. But the revision says a presidential decree will determine those specifics. Prosecutors believe the change hurts their rights because drawing up a presidential degree effectively requires consent from police.
On Wednesday, five top prosecutors offered to quit en masse in protest, and Prosecutor-General Kim Joon-gyu also indicated that he made up his mind to step down early next week after taking care of an international conference of chief prosecutors.
"Agreements and promises have to be kept. If an agreement falls through or a promise is unkept, someone has to take responsibility," Kim was quoted as saying in a statement announced by Supreme Prosecutors' Office spokesman Han Chan-sik.
According to the statement, Kim said he is well aware that prosecutors are shaken over the situation. Kim also said he plans to elaborate on his position on Monday, since he is currently hosting the international conference of chief prosecutors.
President Lee Myung-bak expressed displeasure earlier in the day, urging prosecutors to "show a mature attitude."
Reaction from prosecutors about the bill's passage was not immediately available.
In Thursday's plenary session, the Assembly had also been expected to vote on a motion calling for ousting a former ruling party lawmaker accused of making sexist remarks. But the rival parties deferred it to the next session, according to party officials.
Rep. Kang Yong-seok, 42, was kicked out of the Grand National Party in July last year soon after he made lewd remarks about TV anchorwomen and women's appearances during a meeting with college students.
Should the expulsion bill pass through a plenary session with two-thirds approval, it will make him the country's first-ever lawmaker to be unseated over an ethics issue.
On the last day of the June extra session, vice floor leaders of the GNP and DP agreed to hold another emergency session in August to discuss college tuition cut measures and the free trade agreement with the United States.
The trade deal, signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, has been awaiting approval from the legislatures of the two countries. Opposition parties have been calling for renegotiating the deal, saying the pact favors the U.S.
"To complete the (September) regular session within this year's deadline, we have to convene an emergency session in August," said GNP vice floor leader, Lee Myung-kyu.
It is not unusual that rival parties miss the December 2 legal deadline getting budget bills passed in the assembly.
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly passed a contentious bill on redefining investigative rights of the prosecution and police on Thursday despite strong protests from prosecutors over a last-minute revision that could restrict their control of police investigations.
The criminal code revision bill centers on empowering police to open investigations on their own under the broad supervision of prosecutors. It provides legal grounds for the reality in which most criminal probes are actually launched by police officers first and then sent to prosecutors for indictment.
That was in line with an agreement that the prosecution and police reached last week after long negotiations. But the problem arose when the parliament's judicial committee revised details of the agreement on Tuesday in a way that prosecutors believe restricts their oversight of police investigations.
The original bill had stipulated that details on the prosecution's oversight of police probes will be determined by a justice ministerial decree. But the revision says a presidential decree will determine those specifics. Prosecutors believe the change hurts their rights because drawing up a presidential degree effectively requires consent from police.
On Wednesday, five top prosecutors offered to quit en masse in protest, and Prosecutor-General Kim Joon-gyu also indicated that he made up his mind to step down early next week after taking care of an international conference of chief prosecutors.
"Agreements and promises have to be kept. If an agreement falls through or a promise is unkept, someone has to take responsibility," Kim was quoted as saying in a statement announced by Supreme Prosecutors' Office spokesman Han Chan-sik.
According to the statement, Kim said he is well aware that prosecutors are shaken over the situation. Kim also said he plans to elaborate on his position on Monday, since he is currently hosting the international conference of chief prosecutors.
President Lee Myung-bak expressed displeasure earlier in the day, urging prosecutors to "show a mature attitude."
Reaction from prosecutors about the bill's passage was not immediately available.
In Thursday's plenary session, the Assembly had also been expected to vote on a motion calling for ousting a former ruling party lawmaker accused of making sexist remarks. But the rival parties deferred it to the next session, according to party officials.
Rep. Kang Yong-seok, 42, was kicked out of the Grand National Party in July last year soon after he made lewd remarks about TV anchorwomen and women's appearances during a meeting with college students.
Should the expulsion bill pass through a plenary session with two-thirds approval, it will make him the country's first-ever lawmaker to be unseated over an ethics issue.
On the last day of the June extra session, vice floor leaders of the GNP and DP agreed to hold another emergency session in August to discuss college tuition cut measures and the free trade agreement with the United States.
The trade deal, signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, has been awaiting approval from the legislatures of the two countries. Opposition parties have been calling for renegotiating the deal, saying the pact favors the U.S.
"To complete the (September) regular session within this year's deadline, we have to convene an emergency session in August," said GNP vice floor leader, Lee Myung-kyu.
It is not unusual that rival parties miss the December 2 legal deadline getting budget bills passed in the assembly.
