DP introduces bill requiring police to record entire investigative process

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday proposed a bill requiring police to record the entire investigative process in a bid to ensure transparency as the party pushes to strip the prosecution of its supplementary investigative authority.

Under the bill, police and prosecutors will be required to log details of each stage of an investigation in an interagency criminal justice information system, along with evidence collected during the investigation and materials relevant to sentencing.

The names, positions and affiliations of the investigators, as well as officials in charge of directing the investigation, will also be recorded in the system.

The bill further mandates investigators to take video recordings of the entire execution of searches, seizures and inspections and to keep detailed written records.

The legislation, introduced by DP Rep. Kim Seung-won, comes as the party seeks to address concerns that abolishing prosecutors' supplementary investigative authority could lead to the unintended consequence of weakening protection for victims.

The bill was proposed a day after the DP finalized the party's position that the prosecution should not be allowed the right to supplementary investigations despite concerns among some party lawmakers.

Yonhap