It has been revealed that a 55-year-old police inspector surnamed Jang, the father of Jang Yoon-gi, who is accused of murdering a high school girl in Gwangju, used a series of annual, sick, and official leaves to destroy key evidence following the crime.
According to work records submitted by the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency to the office of People Power Party lawmaker Shin Dong-wook, Inspector Jang took a six-hour emergency annual leave on May 5, the day his son committed the crime and was arrested.
Records show that Inspector Jang filed for the annual leave retroactively through the internal system at 1:13 p.m. on May 6, the following day.
Subsequently, Inspector Jang took sick leave from May 8 to May 18.
Investigations revealed that during this period, key evidence that could prove Jang Yoon-gi's charges of rape and murder was damaged or concealed by Inspector Jang.
The investigation found that the investigative team at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, which was in charge of the case, handed over Jang Yoon-gi's SUV, which contained a 50-centimeter industrial cable tie, to his father, Inspector Jang, on May 6.
Around May 7, the team also shared the passcode to Jang Yoon-gi's studio apartment with Inspector Jang.
On May 8, Inspector Jang began his sick leave, entered his son's apartment, cut up two life-sized dolls—key evidence of the rape and murder—and disposed of the pieces in various locations across Gwangju and South Jeolla Province.
On the same day, during a phone call with the investigation team leader, an inspector surnamed Park, Inspector Jang asked, "Is the place where Jang Yoon-gi threw away his mobile phone under the Cheomdan Bridge on the Yeongsan River?" When Inspector Park confirmed this, Inspector Jang personally searched the area around the bridge.
The mobile phone discarded by Jang Yoon-gi has not been found to date.
During a search and seizure of Inspector Jang's home on July 7, the prosecution discovered a cable tie, which is another piece of evidence related to the rape and murder.
The prosecution suspects that Inspector Jang concealed the evidence after receiving his son's vehicle from the police.
However, it is reported that during questioning by the National Police Agency's special investigation team, Inspector Jang denied any intent to destroy evidence, claiming he was "just trying to clear out the belongings."
Regarding the disposal of the life-sized dolls, he reportedly stated, "I understand now that they were important pieces of evidence, but back in May, I thought it was okay to clear them out because the police had given me the home address and the passcode."
Since his sick leave ended on May 18, Inspector Jang has been using long-term service leave, annual leave, and official leave consecutively.
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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