Prosecutor General: "No Grounds to Submit Prosecutor Misconduct Records to the Corruption Investigation Office"

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office refused a request from the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (Hoegwigongjikja Beomjoe Susa Cheo, Gongu-cheo) to provide details of prosecutor misconduct cases that were closed internally. The refusal was based on the judgment that the request deviated from the legal intent of the Gongu-cheo Act.

On the 1st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "On the 1st of last month, we received a request from Gongu-cheo to submit the entire list of cases related to high-ranking official crimes by prosecutors, all non-prosecution decision documents, and all record lists," but added, "However, it is difficult to consider there is a legal basis for this."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained, "Such a request goes beyond the purpose of related laws such as Article 17 and Article 3 of the Gongu-cheo Act, which allow Gongu-cheo to request data submission only when necessary for investigation, prosecution initiation, and maintenance." It continued, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office requested Gongu-cheo to respond regarding the related cases under investigation by Gongu-cheo (including suspects, charges, case numbers, etc.) and the reasons why the data is needed, but has yet to receive a reply. According to Article 25, Paragraph 2 of the Gongu-cheo Act, when allegations of high-ranking official crimes by prosecutors are found, the prosecution transfers the case to Gongu-cheo without exception," it explained.

Previously, Gongu-cheo requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the National Police Agency to send details of high-ranking official allegations cases that were closed internally after Gongu-cheo's establishment. This was to determine whether there were any high-ranking official crime cases that investigative agencies did not transfer to Gongu-cheo but closed internally after Gongu-cheo's launch. The Gongu-cheo Act stipulates that when other investigative agencies discover allegations of high-ranking official crimes by prosecutors, they must transfer the case to Gongu-cheo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.