[Anchor]

We will now report exclusively on the events surrounding the father of Jang Yun-gi, a suspect in the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju, before and after he destroyed evidence of his son's crime. Circumstances have emerged suggesting that the police investigation team may be linked to this case. It has been revealed that the father, a police inspector surnamed Jang, spoke directly with his son, Jang Yun-gi, just before destroying key evidence of his son's sex crime, and even asked him if he had thrown away his mobile phone. The call between Jang Yun-gi, who was in custody at the time, and Inspector Jang was connected by a police officer from the investigation team handling the case.

Our first report comes from reporter Kim Deok-hyeon.

[Reporter Kim Deok-hyeon]

Around 12:10 a.m. on May 5, Jang Yun-gi, who murdered the late Lee Chae-won, threw his mobile phone into a nearby river immediately after the crime.

Jang Yun-gi was arrested by police on the morning of the crime and was detained two days later. The day after he was detained, his father, Inspector Jang, visited his son's studio apartment, dismantled two real dolls, and discarded them in various locations around Gwangju.

However, SBS has confirmed that a direct phone call took place between Jang Yun-gi and his father, Inspector Jang, before the inspector destroyed the key evidence, including the real dolls.

It is reported that during the call, Inspector Jang asked his son if it was true that he had thrown his mobile phone into the river immediately after the crime.

Jang Yun-gi, who was in custody at the time, was not allowed to make direct calls to outsiders. It has been confirmed that the person who connected the call between Jang Yun-gi and Inspector Jang was a police officer from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team, which was in charge of the case.

It was also revealed that Inspector Jang had multiple phone conversations with other members of the Gwangsan Police Station investigation team while the investigation into Jang Yun-gi was ongoing.

A serving police official, known to have experience in investigative departments, had been communicating directly with the police officers in charge of his son's case.

In response to SBS's inquiry regarding these details, the police explained, "Jang Yun-gi was not cooperating actively with the investigation, so we had his father persuade him," adding, "This was not providing special treatment to the suspect."

(Video Editing: Shin Se-eun, Design: Kim Han-gil)

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[Anchor]

There are further circumstances raising suspicions about the connection between Jang Yun-gi's father, a police official, and the investigation team. Before destroying the evidence, Inspector Jang did not know the location of his son's residence. However, our investigation confirmed that the head of the investigation team provided him with the address and even the door lock password. It was also revealed that Inspector Jang frequently exchanged calls with not only the team leader but also other members of the investigation team with whom he had worked in the past.

Reporter Ahn Hee-jae continues with this exclusive report.

[Reporter Ahn Hee-jae]

Until his son, Jang Yun-gi, was apprehended for the brutal murder of the late Lee Chae-won, Inspector Jang did not know where his son, who lived separately, was residing.

Nevertheless, he was able to visit his son's apartment on May 8 and dispose of the two real dolls because he had received the relevant information from the police.

It has been confirmed that this information was provided to Inspector Jang by the head of the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station's investigation team for the "Jang Yun-gi case."

It was found that the team leader provided Inspector Jang with not only Jang Yun-gi's address but also the password to his door lock.

According to SBS's investigation, a key investigator on the same team, identified as A, was also found to have leaked information related to the investigation through multiple phone calls with Inspector Jang.

Inspector Jang was already acquainted with both individuals, and A, in particular, had worked with him at the same workplace in the past.

As suspicions arise that the investigation team for the "high school girl murder" case effectively acted as a bridge between the father and son, the police have also become busy.

It is reported that the National Police Agency's inspection team questioned the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team today regarding the overall initial investigation.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency stated to SBS, "We will humbly accept the inspection and cooperate faithfully according to principle."

However, they clarified, "We understand that the investigation team did not assist in the destruction of evidence or leak information."

The National Police Agency explained that they intend to examine all raised suspicions and plan to conduct an in-person investigation of Inspector Jang once the review of records is complete.

(Video Editing: Jeon Min-gyu, Design: Choi Jin-hoe)

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[Anchor]

During the prosecution's investigation, additional suspicious handling of the case by the police has come to light. The police explained that they did not need to seize the real dolls destroyed by Jang Yun-gi's father because they had already collected DNA from them and requested an analysis. However, it has been confirmed that when the case was transferred to the prosecution, the report containing these analysis results was not included.

Reporter Jeon Yeon-nam reports next.

[Reporter Jeon Yeon-nam]

After emergency arresting Jang Yun-gi on the morning of May 5 on charges of murdering the late Lee Chae-won, the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team immediately conducted a search and seizure of his residence and vehicle to secure tools used in the crime.

Although they discovered two real dolls during this process, they did not seize the physical items, and three days later, Jang Yun-gi's father, Inspector Jang, visited his son's home and destroyed them.

As controversy over the destruction of evidence related to Jang Yun-gi's sex crime grew following SBS's exclusive report on the 1st, which first revealed this, the police explained that there was no need for seizure because the forensic team had already sufficiently collected DNA from the real dolls.

They also emphasized that they had requested a DNA analysis from the National Forensic Service and even received a report.

However, it has been confirmed that the police did not send the report containing the DNA analysis results when they transferred the case to the prosecution.

They omitted key evidence that could have been used to investigate and uncover Jang Yun-gi's motive for sexual violence.

It is reported that this report contained not only the analysis of the real dolls but also the results of genetic analysis from Jang Yun-gi's vehicle and personal belongings.

The prosecution, which was unaware of the report's existence, reportedly instructed the investigation team yesterday, July 2, to send the relevant records.

Regarding this, the police explained, "The analysis report was omitted due to an internal system issue," and added, "We realized it was missing and sent it to the prosecution yesterday."

They further added that an inspection is currently underway regarding the exact circumstances of the omission.

(Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho)