Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday defended a recently passed legal revision abolishing prosecutors' authority to conduct direct investigations as "the beginning of judicial normalization," signaling his intention to sign the bill into law despite calls from the opposition party to veto it.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting following the National Assembly's passage of the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act. Under this new legislation, the prosecution will be stripped of its authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigations, leaving the responsibility solely to the police.
"Separating investigations from indictments is the starting point for normalizing the abnormal criminal justice system," Lee stated. His remarks highlighted the Cabinet's intention to give final approval to the revision, despite the main opposition bloc's call for him to use his presidential authority to veto the bill.