"Opinion on Rape-Murder Charge Was Raised," But Was It Silenced by the Investigation Team Leader?

[Anchor]

During the investigation into the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju, it has been alleged that a member of the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team suggested reviewing the application of a "rape-murder" charge against Jang Yun-gi, but the team leader dismissed it. The police are expanding the investigation, suspecting that higher-ups may have influenced the team leader's decision.

Kim su-yun reports.

[Reporter]

On May 12, two days before the police referred Jang Yun-gi to the prosecution on charges of murder.

The police have captured circumstances suggesting that within the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team, an opinion was raised asking, "Shouldn't we apply the rape-murder charge?" but the team leader, identified as Inspector A, rejected it, questioning, "Can this be proven with only circumstantial evidence?"

The police special investigation team has secured testimony from an investigator who was part of the investigation team at the time.

The special investigation team summoned Inspector A today (July 10) for the first time since his arrest on July 8 to question him regarding these allegations.

The police suspect that there may have been intervention from higher-ups, as they believe Inspector A, who claims he has "no personal acquaintance with Jang Yun-gi's father," had no personal motive to dismiss the team's opinion that a rape-murder charge was necessary.

It was revealed that Jang Yun-gi's father, Inspector Jang, recently submitted his mobile phone to the police but had deleted all call recording files.

It is reported that the recording files were deemed unrecoverable.

The police plan to conduct an investigation into the leadership of the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station in the near future.

The investigation appears to be expanding in earnest toward the higher-ups.

Today, the prosecution booked the former Gwangsan Police Station Chief, Superintendent General Kim, who was placed on standby on July 7, on charges including leaking official secrets and aiding and abetting the destruction of evidence, and conducted a surprise search and seizure of the Gwangsan Police Station chief's office.

The police have secured testimony from a Gwangsan Police Station official stating that on May 5, the day Jang Yun-gi committed the crime, Superintendent General Kim said during a countermeasure meeting he presided over, "I instructed Inspector A to go and find Inspector Jang."

Superintendent General Kim did not respond to questions from SBS asking why he gave such an instruction.

An official from the special investigation team emphasized, "We will examine all allegations thoroughly, regardless of whether they involve those above, below, or to the side."

(Video reporting: Lee Byeong-ju, Video editing: Kim Jin-won, Design: Kang Yun-jeong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.