The Ministry of Justice stated on the 11th that special activity expenses should be allocated for the prosecution office's execution of sentences and other non-investigative duties. However, the Ministry of Economy and Budget expressed opposition, stating that "a cautious approach is required."

During a plenary session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Acting Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo (Vice Minister of Justice) responded "Yes" to a query by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Geon-tae asking whether special activity expenses are still necessary for confidential duties even if the prosecution office loses its investigative function. Lee stated, "Even if investigation and prosecution are separated, prosecution office prosecutors and criminal/legal affairs officials have a tremendous role to play."

He added, "Fields such as sentence execution, criminal proceeds recovery, extradition of criminals, and international criminal justice cooperation must proceed smoothly to achieve the goals and purposes of the criminal justice process."

Acting Minister Lee emphasized, "Analyzing this year's execution details of special activity expenses, about 42% was used for duties that the prosecution office must perform, such as sentence execution and criminal proceeds recovery. To properly carry out the remaining functions of the prosecution office, special activity expenses must be allocated."

On the other hand, the Ministry of Economy and Budget virtually expressed opposition to allocating special activity expenses to the prosecution office's budget.

Vice Minister of Economy and Budget Cho Yong-beom argued, "In the past, the prosecution's special activity expenses were allocated strictly under the premise of investigating cases. Increasing or newly establishing special activity expenses requires a very cautious approach."

Vice Minister Cho rebutted, "Now that investigation and prosecution are separated and investigations have strictly moved to the Serious Crime Investigation Agency (Jungsucheong), special activity expenses premised on such investigations cannot be allocated to the prosecution office. Criminal repatriation and confidential activity expenses for the prosecution office have been classified as specific-duty expenses rather than special activity expenses."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]