Prosecution Weighs Investigation Into Police Officer Accused of Smashing Son's Phone Amid Teacher Spycam Probe

Attention is focusing on whether the prosecution will launch an investigation into a police officer who smashed his son's cell phone—a core piece of evidence—after the son fell under police investigation for attempting to illegally film parts of a female teacher's body.

Previously, the prosecution, which holds direct investigative authority over police misconduct cases, initiated an investigation into suspected collusion between the father of Jang Yoon-ki (23), a "high school girl murder suspect," and the investigation team at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station.

Today (July 28), the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office is reviewing whether to bring charges in the case of A (18), who was forwarded by police last month on charges of filming using cameras and other devices.

High school student A is accused of attempting to secretly film parts of his homeroom teacher's body with his cell phone last May.

The homeroom teacher, having noticed the act, confronted A and filed a complaint with the police, and this fact was also notified to the student's father, Inspector B.

Thereupon, Inspector B smashed the cell phone, presumed to be the evidence used in the crime, while reprimanding A.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency has captured circumstances of evidence destruction by Inspector B and his spouse, and is conducting an investigation including searching his home.

However, even if a police investigation proceeds, the likelihood of Inspector B being punished is not high due to the "relative special provision," which exempts relatives from punishment if they hide a criminal or destroy evidence under current law.

Inspector B, a serving police officer, also appeared aware of this, writing on the police internal network, "I just laughed out loud because the search and seizure warrant stated that I could be punished if I find an accomplice to my child and someone who incited evidence destruction." He added, "Even assuming I destroyed evidence, it is a matter for which I cannot be punished, and it is so unfair and infuriating to be investigated as if I were involved in the Jo Ju-bin or Jang Yoon-ki cases."

However, a number of fellow police officers reportedly criticized such claims as inappropriate.

They added, "We sincerely hope that going forward (as the police's investigative authority expands), you will pay attention to the human rights of suspects and become an impartial police officer who is tough on the strong and kind to the weak."

The police are reportedly planning to intensively look into whether Inspector B destroyed evidence upon the advice of fellow police officers, and whether there was any organized collusion within certain departments.

A police official said, "Although there is a relative special provision for evidence destruction, we can still forward the case, so we will continue our investigation."

The prosecution stated that while it is not currently reviewing a direct investigation into this case, it is examining whether there are any deficiencies in the investigation of A's case prior to bringing charges.

This can also be read to mean that the case of Jang Yoon-ki, where there are suspicions that the police attempted to systematically cover up sex crime allegations, and the matter of Inspector B destroying his son's crime evidence are of a different nature.

A prosecution official briefly stated, "(A's case) is currently under investigation, so it is difficult to reveal specific details."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.