Assemblyman Lee Hyung-seok: "Statute of Limitations for Disciplining Police Human Rights Violations Such as Abuse Must Be Removed"

Proposal for Partial Amendment to the Police Officer Act

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for disciplining police officers involved in human rights violations such as illegal arrest and harsh treatment has been proposed.

On the 20th, Lee Hyung-seok, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Buk-gu Eul), announced that he had taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Police Officers Act" to remove the statute of limitations for disciplining police officers who committed human rights violations such as torture or illegal detention during investigations, thereby holding them accountable.

The Hwaseong 8th Murder Case, Nakdong Riverside Murder Case, and Samrye Nara Super Robbery-Murder Case are incidents where police officers, during investigations, committed human rights violations such as illegal arrest, detention, assault, and harsh treatment, and fabricated cases, falsely accusing innocent citizens of murder.

As victims who suffered wrongful imprisonment due to the police's anti-human rights investigations received acquittals through retrials, public opinion grew for the cancellation of promotions and commendations of the involved police officers, as well as for disciplinary actions.

However, the statute of limitations for disciplining the involved police officers (3 to 5 years) had passed, making punishment impossible. This is because the current Police Officers Act stipulates that disciplinary action cannot be taken if 3 years (5 years for misconduct related to money or goods) have passed since the date the cause for discipline occurred.

Rep. Lee said, "It is deplorable that police officers who ruthlessly trampled on the lives of innocent citizens cannot be held appropriately accountable," adding, "In the future, police officers involved in cases of abuse of authority, infringement of others' rights, assault, harsh treatment, illegal arrest, detention, and other coercive harsh acts that fabricate cases and violate the human rights of innocent citizens must be strictly held responsible."

He continued, "With this amendment, I hope to clearly establish responsibility so that the statute of limitations does not become a pardon for police officers who committed coercive harsh acts, and to prevent such incidents from recurring."