‘검경 합동수사 전담부서·사전협력 의무화’ 수사준칙…“현실성·효용성 떨어져”

The revised source material proposes amendments to the investigation rules, aiming to streamline the joint investigation process and compulsory cooperation between prosecutors and police officers. These changes were made in preparation for the upcoming revision of the Criminal Procedure Act, set to take effect in October. However, concerns have been raised regarding the practicality and usefulness of these amendments, as they do not fully align with the objectives and principles of the investigation and court procedures.

The proposed amendments include the establishment of joint investigation teams and the appointment of dedicated prosecutors or investigators to assist in joint investigations. The rules also outline the need for prosecutors to request the assistance of investigators and allow for consultations between prosecutors and investigators, with a response timeframe of seven days.

However, legal experts argue that the seven-day deadline is too stringent and may hinder effective cooperation. They also argue that the amendments conflict with the spirit of the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which focuses on preventing over-reliance on prosecutors in investigations. Additionally, the amendments may complicate matters for specialist cases and violate the principle of separating investigators from those holding evidence.

As a result, legal experts believe that the effective cooperation between investigators and prosecutors is crucial to the successful implementation of the revised investigation rules.