Police to Introduce Mandatory Reporting of Case Inquiries to Block Improper Interference

[Financial News] The police will introduce a mandatory reporting rule for case inquiries to prevent improper requests or interference in cases under investigation or enforcement. The scope of management will also be expanded to include inquiries from outside parties such as lawyers and legal office staff, while inappropriate private contact with people involved in a case will be restricted.
The National Police Agency said on the 31st that it will revise the "ban on case inquiries" and "ban on private contact" systems and run them on a trial basis starting on the 1st of next month to improve fairness and transparency in case handling.
The changes were designed to strengthen internal controls over case inquiries that could exert unfair influence on case handling, as misconduct related to duty, including leaks of investigative information and breaches of confidentiality, has recently been reported in succession. The National Police Agency said it prepared the revisions after discussions involving related departments and outside members, including the Police Investigation Reform Committee and a task force on follow-up measures to the revised Criminal Procedure Act.
First, case inquiries that could undermine fair case handling will, in principle, be prohibited. The management target will be expanded beyond current and former police officers to include outside parties such as unretained lawyers and legal office staff. Passing a case inquiry on to another public official will also be banned.
If an unretained lawyer or legal office staff member makes a case inquiry, a separate review process will also be conducted. The police plan to examine whether the inquiry violates the Korean Bar Association's Code of Ethics for Attorneys or constitutes an improper solicitation under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and then take necessary measures.
Police officers who receive a case inquiry will now be required to report it. If they receive such an inquiry from a serving public official, they must report it immediately, and failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.
The system restricting private contact with people involved in a case will also be strengthened. Related rules, which had previously been operated under internal guidelines, will be codified in the Policing Code of Conduct. Contact for purposes other than official duties with suspects, victims, complainants, defense attorneys, and operators of establishments where illegal gambling or other unlawful betting activities take place will be prohibited.
Before the system takes effect, the National Police Agency will begin a trial run on the 1st of next month until the Policing Code of Conduct is revised. During this period, any confirmed case inquiry violations will be met with measures such as verbal warnings to raise awareness, while employees who report case inquiries will receive rewards such as commendations to encourage voluntary reporting.
A National Police Agency official said, "Through this system overhaul, we will ensure that officers in charge of cases can carry out their duties according to the law and principles, free from outside pressure or improper inquiries, and we will work to establish a culture of fair and transparent case handling."
[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter