‘Criminal Procedure Act Amendment Bill’ Introduced
“Grant Reconsideration Request Rights to Complainants as Well”
Park Gyuntaek, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Gwangsan Gap, Gwangju, announced on the 17th that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act" to expand the scope of subjects eligible for retrial requests.
Park stated, "There is growing public criticism as the prosecution has decided not to indict in the case of First Lady Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag receipt incident, as well as in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case," and pointed out, "This happened because the prosecutor monopolizes prosecution, and there is no procedure to appeal except for the complainant."
He continued, "I have taken the lead in proposing the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act to correct the prosecutor's unfair non-indictment decisions and abuses," and explained, "The amendment includes expanding the subjects eligible for retrial requests from complainants to accusers, and allowing judges to directly hear the opinions of parties involved in the case during the retrial request review process."
When the prosecution decides not to indict, the complainant can seek a court judgment on whether the prosecution's decision is appropriate through a retrial request. However, the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case is an accusation case, so there is no complainant, making a retrial request impossible.
Park emphasized, "The dark side of the prosecution's monopoly on prosecution was revealed during the decision of no charges in the case of First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case," and stressed, "Retrial request rights should be granted to accusers such as civic groups interested in public interest cases and the general public to check such abuses."
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