The South Korean prosecution on Monday requested an arrest warrant from a Seoul court for a former judge suspected of influence peddling in several law cases, shocking the country's judicial community, prosecutors said.
This is the first time in the country's judicial history that a warrant has been sought for a former or incumbent judge, although such warrants have been issued in state emergencies in the past. The former justice, identified only by his family name Cho, is suspected of peddling influence in several civil and criminal cases in return for money and luxury goods. Cho resigned on Friday in the midst of the investigation.
The court will examine the prosecution's request and is expected to decide whether to issue the warrant on Tuesday.
In 1971, two current judges and a court official were almost arrested by the military dictatorship at the time as part of its retaliatory measures against judges who ruled for defendants on charges of violating the National Security Law. In response to the government's move, judges submitted resignations en masse, and then-President Park Chung-hee ordered the suspension of investigations of judges.
Most civic organizations reacted by saying that the court should issue the warrant sought by the prosecution.
"The court should show its strong determination to root out judicial irregularities by strictly applying the yardstick for arrests to Cho's case," said Lee Kang-won, an official from the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice.
"If the court rejects the prosecution's request, the court itself will fall into the public's distrust," said Hong Jin-pyo, an official with Citizens United for a Better Society.
Seoul, Aug. 7 (Yonhap News)
Prosecution seeks arrest warrant for former judge |
