Prosecutors and Police Vie for Control Following Over 16-Hour Search of National Office of Investigation

[Anchor]

The prosecution and the police, both investigating allegations of a botched probe into the Jang Yoon-gi case, have each concluded searches of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the National Police Agency. It appears that both agencies are competing for control of the investigation, with the NOI itself now under scrutiny.

Our first report today, July 22, comes from Kim Kwan-jin.

[Reporter]

The investigation team from the Gwangju District Prosecutors Office arrived at the National Office of Investigation at approximately 6:15 a.m. yesterday.

The search targeted offices including the Violent Crime Investigation Division and the Women and Juvenile Crime Investigation Division of the NOI.

The search was conducted to determine whether the police command structure intervened in the investigation regarding allegations of a botched probe into Jang Yoon-gi, who murdered a high school girl.

The prosecution suspects that senior police officials may have been involved in the process of applying the charge of general murder, which carries a lighter sentence than rape-murder, to Jang.

A special police investigation team also launched a search of the same location.

The police search began one hour after the prosecution started its operation yesterday morning and did not conclude until nightfall.

[What items did you seize? Is it the same as the prosecution's, or different?]

It is reported that the police executed their warrant only after observing the prosecution's search, which had begun earlier.

Although the prosecution and the police are applying different charges, the underlying criminal facts are effectively the same, and the items seized overlap. It is highly unusual for both agencies to search the same location simultaneously.

Analysts suggest that the prosecution and police have begun a full-scale competition for control of the investigation, especially after statements from investigation team members emerged claiming that the NOI had issued instructions to separate the murder and sex crime charges against Jang.

A subtle tension between the two investigative agencies is also being detected.

The police criticized the prosecution, stating that there was a lack of minimal respect for a state institution, noting that the search was conducted before staff had even arrived for work. In response, the prosecution countered that it makes no common sense for a special investigation team formed by the NOI to search the NOI itself.

(Video Editing: Oh Young-taek)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.