Page 261 - 2018 Defense White Paper

activities of the military police, and ban the appointment of enlisted personnel as assistant

military judicial police off icers. 20)

| Enhancing Human Rights Protection in Investigative Procedures | Starting in July

2018, the MND introduced measures for enhanced human rights protection within the military
investigation procedures. The MND reinforced suspects’ rights to defend themselves by allowing
them to seek legal counsel, and required investigators to take caution to minimize the shock

felt by the families and friends of suspects during arrests, detentions, seizures, and searches. In
addition, the MND clarif ied the standard for rests provided to suspects, requiring investigators
to let suspects rest at least for 10 minutes every two hours. In addition, the MND introduced

the legal basis for allowing victims of military crimes to select and request public defenders for
legal counsel.

Chapter 6

20) The military judicial police is an investigative body under the Military Court Act who investigate crimes over
which military courts have jurisdiction. The military judicial police consists of military judicial police officers and
assistant military judicial police officers. Judicial police officers investigate crimes over which military courts
have jurisdiction (Articles 43 and 44, Military Court Act), while assistant judicial police officers assist with
officers’ investigations in accordance with directions from military prosecutors or judicial police officers (Article
46, Military Court Act). Currently, enlisted members serving in the military judicial police serve as military police
officers or handle security works at the Military Security Support Command.e

Section 3 Reinforcing the Human Rights Protection for Servicemembers 259