ID :
49361
Fri, 03/06/2009 - 22:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/49361
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Opposition parties urge Supreme Court judge to quit over scandal
SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Friday
called on a Supreme Court justice to resign for allegedly attempting to influence
junior judges in cases dealing with protesters arrested during last year's
anti-U.S. beef rallies.
Supreme Court justice Shin Young-chul is accused of sending several confidential
emails to junior judges between October and November of 2008 while serving as
head of the Seoul Central District Court. In his emails, Shin allegedly asked the
judges to speed up criminal trials involving individuals arrested during the
months-long candlelight demonstrations against Seoul's decision to resume U.S.
beef imports.
Prosecutors indicted more than 1,000 protesters on charges of organizing or
participating in the nighttime rallies that rocked the country last year. Under
current law, nighttime outdoor demonstrations are banned. Last year's
demonstrations against U.S. beef imports erupted in late-night street marches and
clashes with police.
Opposition lawmakers insist Shin's emails could be interpreted as an attempt to
intervene in court trials by junior judges, some of whom had refused to proceed
with the hearings citing the potential unconstitutionality of the law barring
nighttime outdoor rallies.
Shin, promoted to the Supreme Court last month, said that he had not intended to
meddle in the trials and would cooperate in the probe launched by the Supreme
Court.
"The Supreme Court should carry out a thorough investigation and seek strict
accountability (for any wrongdoings)," Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, head of the DP, said
at a meeting of party leaders.
Chung also said that Shin should make a conscious decision as to whether he
should stay in office or resign, questioning how a head judge could order
individual judges on how to handle trials.
Rep. Lee Hoi-chang, head of the conservative opposition Liberty Forward Party,
also described Shin's alleged involvement as "inappropriate."
"There cannot be any meddling by the head of a court in any trials proceedings,"
Lee, a former Supreme Court judge, said in a meeting of party staffers.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
called on a Supreme Court justice to resign for allegedly attempting to influence
junior judges in cases dealing with protesters arrested during last year's
anti-U.S. beef rallies.
Supreme Court justice Shin Young-chul is accused of sending several confidential
emails to junior judges between October and November of 2008 while serving as
head of the Seoul Central District Court. In his emails, Shin allegedly asked the
judges to speed up criminal trials involving individuals arrested during the
months-long candlelight demonstrations against Seoul's decision to resume U.S.
beef imports.
Prosecutors indicted more than 1,000 protesters on charges of organizing or
participating in the nighttime rallies that rocked the country last year. Under
current law, nighttime outdoor demonstrations are banned. Last year's
demonstrations against U.S. beef imports erupted in late-night street marches and
clashes with police.
Opposition lawmakers insist Shin's emails could be interpreted as an attempt to
intervene in court trials by junior judges, some of whom had refused to proceed
with the hearings citing the potential unconstitutionality of the law barring
nighttime outdoor rallies.
Shin, promoted to the Supreme Court last month, said that he had not intended to
meddle in the trials and would cooperate in the probe launched by the Supreme
Court.
"The Supreme Court should carry out a thorough investigation and seek strict
accountability (for any wrongdoings)," Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, head of the DP, said
at a meeting of party leaders.
Chung also said that Shin should make a conscious decision as to whether he
should stay in office or resign, questioning how a head judge could order
individual judges on how to handle trials.
Rep. Lee Hoi-chang, head of the conservative opposition Liberty Forward Party,
also described Shin's alleged involvement as "inappropriate."
"There cannot be any meddling by the head of a court in any trials proceedings,"
Lee, a former Supreme Court judge, said in a meeting of party staffers.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
