SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday defended a recently passed legal revision abolishing prosecutors' authority to conduct direct investigations as "the beginning of judicial normalization," signaling his intention to sign the bill into law despite calls from the opposition party to veto it.

The president made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting following the National Assembly's passage of the revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, under which the prosecution will be stripped of its authority to conduct direct investigations, including supplementary investigation, leaving investigations solely to the police.

"Separating investigations from indictments is the starting point for normalizing the abnormal criminal justice system," Lee said. His remarks signaled the Cabinet's intention to give final approval to the revision, despite the main opposition bloc's call for him to use his presidential authority to veto the bill.

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