Prosecutors Implement Guidelines for "Human Rights Protection Officer's Step-by-Step Inspection of Direct Investigation Initiation Cases"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution will implement guidelines starting from the 1st that allow human rights officers to inspect cases where direct investigations have been initiated.

On the 1st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced that it has established these guidelines, which will be enforced at 34 offices nationwide where human rights officers are stationed. This follows decisions made during the recent 'Direct Investigation Practice Improvement Discussion' by the People-Centered Prosecution Promotion Team (Investigation Practice Innovation TF).

Accordingly, human rights officers will review cases where the prosecution has initiated direct investigations to identify any issues. They will check compliance with laws such as the Human Rights Protection Investigation Rules, as well as fairness and neutrality, during the prosecution's direct investigation of six major crimes including corruption, crimes by public officials, and elections.

Human rights officers must report to the head of their affiliated institution, such as the chief prosecutor, on whether various laws are being followed at each stage of the case, including warrant requests, travel bans and suspensions, and decisions to prosecute.

The chief prosecutor or head of the relevant institution may review the investigation team's opinions and the human rights officer's inspection results and take necessary measures.

Meanwhile, human rights officers are assigned to 33 branch offices nationwide (5 high prosecutors' offices, 18 district prosecutors' offices, and 10 branch offices with deputy prosecutors). They are prosecutors from the Judicial Research and Training Institute classes 29 to 32 with extensive practical experience.

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