Gov't panel strengthens protection for whistle blowers

By Kim Boram

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- Employers who expose the identity of or fire informants will be held legally accountable under a bill being strengthened to protect whistle blowers who report internal irregularities, a state panel said Tuesday.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) said it is revising a bill
drafted earlier this year that critics said mandated too light a punishment for
violators.
According to the revisions, employers can now be sentenced to up to three years
in prison or a 30 million won (US$24,000) fine if they reveal the identity of an
informant. Those who fire the informant face a maximum of two-year imprisonment
or a 20 million won fine.
The original draft only allowed the commission to "recommend" a reprimand for
those who take retaliatory action against whistle blowers.
The proposed law is meant to safeguard those who tip off authorities about
suspected mismanagement, fraud and other irregularities that undermine public
interest, commission officials said.
The revised bill will be submitted to the parliament within the month and sent to
the Cabinet for approval, they said.
brk@yna.co.kr
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