extending communication-restricting measures.
Suspects who had been intercepted by communication-restricting
measures could not defend their right to privacy because they did not
know whether they were intercepted or not. If there is no limitation
on the entire period or number of times of communication-restricting
measures, the Secrecy of private communication of the suspect, which
is not related to the criminal investigation, would be significantly
invaded, violating the principle of balance of interests. Therefore, the
instant provision violates the Constitution.
Nevertheless, in this case, if the Constitutional Court delivers the
decision of unconstitutional that nullifies the effects of the instant
provision, the legal vacuum may occur by nullifying the legal ground
to permit the extending of communication-restricting measures,
implying the reasonable communicant-restricting measures required for
investigation would not be permitted. Therefore, it would be desirable
to decide this instant provision shall be temporarily applicable despite
it is incompatible with the Constitution; and the Legislature shall
revise the instant provision until December 31, 2011.
2. Dissenting Opinion with regard to the Holding Statement of 2
Justices
The legal vacuum would not occur because additional
communication-restricting measures for the identical criminal offense
would be permitted when they are required for investigating even if
the legal ground of permission of extending such measures is decided
unconstitutional, losing its effects. Therefore the Constitutional Court
should deliver the decision of unconstitutional.
3. Concurring Opinion of 1 Justice
The interception of communication should accord with the warrant
issued by judges under due process because it invades the
fundamentals of right of privacy and privacy to communication
(Article 12 Section 3 of the Constitution). However, the Protection of
Communication Secrets Act broadly stipulated the scope of the crime
which may be subject to the interception of communication, allowing
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