Unresolved cases top 180,000 just before prosecution service is abolished... up 46,000 in three months

[Financial News] The number of unresolved cases the Prosecutors’ Office had yet to handle just before it closed on the 1st exceeded 180,000, it has emerged. The total rose by about 46,000 in just three months.
According to the Public Prosecution Office on the 7th, there were 186,307 unresolved cases across prosecutors’ offices nationwide at the end of September. That was an increase of 21,485 from the 164,822 cases at the end of August, in just one month.
Unresolved cases stood at 140,513 at the end of June this year, then surged to 165,020 at the end of July. They remained at a similar level at the end of August, with 164,822 cases, before rising sharply again in September. That was an increase of 45,794 over three months compared with the end of June.
Most unresolved cases had been referred to prosecutors by first-line investigative agencies, including the police and special judicial police. They account for about 99% of the total. The Public Prosecution Office will take over these cases and decide whether to indict or not, or, if necessary, request supplementary investigations from the investigative agencies.
By contrast, cases that prosecutors themselves identified and began investigating are, in principle, transferred to other investigative agencies, such as the Serious Crime Investigation Agency or the police. After sorting the cases subject to transfer, the Public Prosecution Office began transferring them in stages on the 6th.
However, cases that are difficult to transfer immediately, such as those nearing the statute of limitations for prosecution, may exceptionally continue to be investigated by the Public Prosecution Office for a certain period. Under the relevant transitional provisions, investigations may continue for up to 90 days from the Office’s opening.
The Seoul Central District Public Prosecution Office plans to continue investigating major cases initiated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in which a substantial portion of evidence-gathering procedures, including search and seizure, voluntary submissions and questioning of people involved, has been completed.
The cases include an alleged fraud case involving the issuance of Homeplus electronic short-term bonds and the corporate rehabilitation filing process involving private equity firm MBK Partners, as well as a case involving allegations that the family of former President Roh Tae-woo concealed slush funds, which came to light during the divorce proceedings of SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won.
The Public Prosecution Office also plans to wrap up cases involving violations of the Public Official Election Act related to the June 3 local elections, which prosecutors had identified and investigated themselves. The fact that only a short time remains before the six-month statute of limitations for election crimes expires was among the factors considered.
 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter