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Supreme Court chief justice moves to oppose prosecutorial probe

Supreme Court chief justice moves to oppose prosecutorial probe

Posted June. 09, 2018 07:37,   

Updated June. 09, 2018 07:37

한국어

Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo expressed his inclination to internally resolve suspected abuse of judicial authority rather than filing a suit with the prosecution.

“I think the most important thing is to resolve (suspicion over abuse of judicial authority) within the court system,” Chief Justice Kim told reporters Friday morning, indicating that suspected abuse of judicial administrative authority happened within the court, which should be resolved internally.

Kim backtracked a bit from his earlier stance in which he said he was considering all possible solutions including criminal investigation. “I am well aware that there are other opinions about the result of investigation by the special inspection team (which chose not to seek criminal investigation),” Kim said last Monday. “We will devise proper measures and countermeasures by collecting different opinions.”

If the Supreme Court finalizes its decision not to seek criminal investigation of people involved, it will more likely to take follow-up measures such as internal disciplinary action against those responsible, further probe into the case to find facts and truth, and development of a plan to reform the Office of Court Administration.

As if mindful of the national meeting of senior judges that will take place on Monday, Chief Justice Kim left open some possibility to seek a criminal measure. Asked if the court will not seek prosecutorial investigation, Kim said, “You don’t need to think that way. Anyway, I intend (not to seek prosecutorial probe) in principle.”


hoho@donga.com