[Anchor]

We begin today, July 5, with an SBS exclusive report on the Gwangju high school student murder case. It has been confirmed that a police officer involved in the investigation leaked information to the suspect's father—a serving police official—that an arrest warrant would be requested for his son, Jang Yoon-gi. With the revelation that police shared planned investigative steps in advance, there are growing calls for an investigation into potential collusion between the investigative team and the suspect's father.

Report by Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

Jang Yoon-gi, who brutally murdered a high school student in the early hours of May 5, was emergency arrested by police that same morning and was taken into custody two days later on May 7.

However, SBS has learned that a member of the investigative team informed the suspect's father, identified as Police Inspector Jang, who is a police official in the Gwangju area, about the planned investigation in advance.

According to reports, the investigator told Inspector Jang during a phone call that they "planned to request an arrest warrant and a search and seizure warrant for his son," sharing specific details about the progress of the investigation.

It is highly unusual for police to share specific future investigative plans, such as warrant requests, with a suspect's side, and this matter warrants an investigation into potential illegality.

Previously, the police failed to seize a sex doll that could have proven sexual assault charges against Jang, as well as the vehicle used in the crime. Furthermore, they did not submit a DNA analysis report confirming the victim's bloodstains to the prosecution.

Additionally, it was confirmed that the police investigative team even provided Jang's address and password to Inspector Jang, leading to criticism that they effectively gave the suspect an opportunity to dispose of the sex doll.

There is speculation that the police officer who leaked the investigative information could face charges of divulging official secrets.

When asked by SBS about the circumstances surrounding the leak of investigative information, the police stated they could not comment as an internal inspection is currently underway. However, there is growing pressure to launch a separate investigation into the suspected collusion between the investigative team and Inspector Jang.

Reported by Jung Kyung-moon | Video by Yoon Tae-ho | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung