사법방해행위의 형사법적 규제방안

The Criminal Regulation of Obstruction of Justice - On the False Statement of Witness -

False statements by witnesses are widespread at the stage of criminal investigation in Korea. The Supreme Court held that a false statement before a investigatory agent did not fall within the fraudulent obstruction of the performance of governmental affairs(section 137 in Criminal Act). And there is no parallel statues to §242.1 of the Model Penal Code of U.S.A. So, Someone insisted that the witnesse(at the stage of criminal investigation) have been granted an unlimited freedom to lie in effect. It has been proposed that new proposition to define and punish the misdemeanor of obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function is needed. But, I cannot easily accept the suggestion. The reasons are as follows. First, we cannot say that the witness has same burden to find out the real truth of an affair as like prosecutor. Second, New legislation of punishing false statements by witnesses would be efficient, but it will invite danger of violation of human rights to emphasize efficiency of investigation. In current Criminal Law, there is a proposition against obstruction of the performance of official duties by fraudulent as general statue. And current propositions against false accusation, destruction of evidence and offense harboring an offender can be applicable.