"I Did It Because I Am a Father": Police Investigate Potential Higher-Level Involvement in Murder Cover-Up

[Anchor]

It has been reported that the father of Jang Yun-gi, the perpetrator of the Gwangju high school girl murder case, stated during police questioning that he destroyed evidence because he is a father. The police are also reported to have questioned members of the investigation team from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station regarding whether there was any involvement from higher-ups in the cover-up of the case.

Reporter Son Gijun has the story.

[Reporter]

The police summoned Jang Yun-gi's father, a police inspector surnamed Jang, as a witness on the afternoon of July 8 and questioned him for seven hours.

Police interrogated Inspector Jang on why he disposed of items such as a real doll and an old mobile phone found at his son's home.

It is reported that in response to repeated questions from the investigation team, Inspector Jang stated that he acted as he did because he is a father.

He reportedly did not exercise his right to remain silent and answered most of the questions asked by the police.

On July 9, the police summoned and questioned two members of the investigation team from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station who were in charge of the initial investigation into the Jang Yun-gi case.

They were reportedly questioned on whether there was any involvement from so-called higher-ups in the poor investigation, such as neglecting the cable ties discovered during the search of Jang Yun-gi's vehicle.

Their direct superior, a police inspector surnamed A who served as the investigation team leader at Gwangsan Police Station, was arrested on the night of July 8.

Although Inspector A, who faces an arrest warrant on charges of destroying evidence, denied all allegations by claiming he had never met Jang Yun-gi's father, the court determined there was a risk of evidence destruction and flight.

The police have initiated forensic procedures to analyze the mobile phone of Inspector A, who is now in custody.

The police believe that this phone may contain clues regarding why Inspector A decided to help Jang Yun-gi's father and whether there was any involvement from higher-ups.

Acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency Yoo Jae-sung, who was on a business trip to the United States to attend a UN Chiefs of Police Summit, cut his trip short and returned early this morning on July 10. He is set to preside over a video conference with the leadership to devise measures regarding the allegations of a botched investigation.

Reported by Lee Byeong-ju | Video by Ahn Yeo-jin | Graphics by Kim Ye-ji | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.