[Anchor]
The police special investigation team has secured testimony that the chief of the Gwangsan Police Station issued instructions to avoid linking the Jang Yoon-gi case to relationship-based crimes, such as stalking. At the time, the police were facing disciplinary action following criticism that a stalking-murder case in Namyangju was caused by poor police response. The special investigation team suspects that the Gwangju police intentionally mishandled the investigation to avoid similar criticism and disciplinary measures.
We begin with our top story today, July 16. Reporter An Huijae has the details.
[Reporter]
From the arrest to the referral of the case, the investigation into Jang Yoon-gi, the murderer of the late Lee Chae-won, was overseen by the then-chief of the Gwangsan Police Station, Superintendent Kim.
Superintendent Kim has reportedly maintained his position that he "ordered a thorough investigation" even after allegations of a shoddy investigation surfaced.
However, the police special investigation team has captured circumstances suggesting that Superintendent Kim issued instructions contrary to this stance during the early stages of the Jang Yoon-gi investigation.
According to the testimony secured, when the investigation team reported that Jang was also suspected of stalking and sexually assaulting a Vietnamese woman he worked with part-time on May 3—just two days before he murdered the late Lee Chae-won—Superintendent Kim instructed the team to "ensure that any mention of relationship-based crimes is avoided as much as possible."
The special investigation team is also reported to have secured various concrete pieces of evidence containing the process by which the Gwangsan Police Station leadership, including Superintendent Kim, discussed these matters.
SBS's investigation revealed that this investigative directive from Superintendent Kim was relayed to the investigation team leader, Inspector A, through the head of the criminal division, Superintendent Park.
Subsequently, the Gwangsan Police investigation team failed to secure key evidence, such as cable ties and a real doll, despite being aware of their existence.
As a result, the investigation team accepted Jang's claim that the murder was an impulsive act, stating he "decided to commit suicide and wanted to take someone with him." Consequently, they excluded any connection to sex crimes and charged him only with general murder, rather than rape-murder.
The special investigation team suspects that the Gwangsan Police leadership conducted a shoddy investigation out of fear that it would be revealed they failed to properly respond to the relationship-based crimes, such as stalking and sexual assault, that Jang committed prior to the murder of the high school student.
The special investigation team is not ruling out the possibility of intervention from higher authorities in this decision-making process by the leadership and is expanding its investigation.
(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin | Video editing: Park Ji-in | Design: Han Heung-soo)
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