Seoul: Prosecutors are reportedly investigating police officers suspected of covering up a fraud case involving a well-known influencer. These allegations came to light during a probe into a stock manipulation case involving the influencer's husband. The police officers are also under suspicion of accepting money and receiving entertainment at a hostess bar funded by the influencer's husband.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in December, five months after the initial complaint was filed, police cleared the influencer of suspected charges and suspended the investigation. Evidence suggests that the same police officer may have covered up another fraud case at the request of the influencer's husband, which was also closed without referral to prosecutors. This cover-up might have gone unnoticed if not for a separate investigation by prosecutors.
The power of police to close cases without referring them to prosecutors was increased following a reallocation of investigative authority between the prosecution and police. This change was enacted under the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecutorial reform in 2021. Concerns are rising about the potential for police to become an unchecked investigative power, as prosecutors struggle to compel police action on investigations.
Reports indicate that police under the Seosan branch of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office ignored a prosecutorial request for further investigation into a drunk driving case from October 2020, with files left untouched for five years. Investigations into powerful figures, including lawmakers, are also under scrutiny for delays and lack of outcomes.
In one instance, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been investigating allegations against Rep. Kim Byung-kee, an independent lawmaker, for seven months without significant progress. Despite multiple summons for questioning, the investigation has been hampered by repeated changes in leadership.
Before the reallocation of authority, police were required to refer every case they investigated to prosecutors, who decided on indictments. Now, cases reach prosecutors only if objections are lodged. This shift has led to case backlogs and inadequate explanations for nonreferral decisions, leaving victims in the dark and unable to effectively challenge outcomes.
The delays in handling cases allow perpetrators to evade scrutiny, and in some cases, investigations are concealed from public view. Current proposals to abolish prosecutors' authority to request supplementary investigations could further exacerbate unchecked police misconduct.
Legal professionals advocate for reinstating the requirement that all cases be forwarded to prosecutors, including those deemed charge-free, to prevent routine police misconduct and ensure victims have avenues for redress. If prosecutorial oversight is removed, the dangers of unchecked police actions grow, leaving victims without recourse.