Nearly 6,000 reported for law distortion in first 2 months

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law distortion-complaints

Nearly 6,000 reported for law distortion in first 2 months

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Some 6,000 people have been reported on charges related to the crime of distorting the law, police said Monday, about two months after new legislation criminalizing such offenses went into effect.

The law distortion crime took effect on March 12, allowing for the punishment of judges, prosecutors and police officers who intentionally distort legal principles or manipulate facts in a case under trial or investigation. Violators can be punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years and disqualification for up to 10 years.

The Korean National Police Agency said in a press notice that it has received complaints against 5,805 people in 327 cases on suspicions of law distortion as of Wednesday.

Police officers accounted for 1,566 of the accused, or 27 percent of the total, followed by 376 prosecutors (6.5 percent), 242 judges (4.2 percent) and 157 prosecution investigators and special judicial police officers (2.7 percent), the agency said.

The remaining 3,464 people were found not to be subject to prosecution for distorting the law.

Of the 327 reported cases, 244 are currently under investigation, the agency said, adding five cases were transferred to other agencies and 78 dismissed. No cases have been referred to the prosecution yet.

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