▲ Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok (Yonhap)

(LEAD) prosecution-reform

(LEAD) Acting top prosecutor defends prosecution's right to supplementary investigations

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SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The acting top prosecutor has defended the prosecution's right to supplementary investigations as its "duty," his office said Thursday, apparently voicing opposition to calls within the ruling Democratic Party (DP) to abolish such powers.

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok's remarks came as the government and the DP have sought to carry out sweeping prosecutorial reform to curb prosecutors from potentially abusing their powers.

"While following due process, uncovering the substantive truth through supplementary investigation is not the prosecution's right but its duty," said Noh during his visit to the southeastern city of Busan on Wednesday, according to his office.

Currently, prosecutors can conduct supplementary investigations themselves in certain cases or request police for them if they find their investigations insufficient.

Some DP lawmakers have called for taking away the prosecution's right to such investigations but the idea has raised concerns that it could in turn fail to keep the police in check.

The DP seeks to pass a bill on Sept. 25 that would abolish the prosecution service and establish new separate agencies in charge of indictments and investigations into serious crimes.

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