[Anchor]

The prosecution has launched a full-scale investigation into the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, which handled the case of Jang Yoon-gi, a murderer who killed a high school girl. The investigation focuses on allegations that the police team destroyed evidence and leaked sensitive information to Jang's father. Prosecutors also plan to determine whether higher-ranking police officials were involved.

Reporter Kim su-yun has the story.

[Reporter]

Prosecution investigators arrived at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station early in the morning.

The Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office conducted its first search and seizure operation targeting the police team that investigated the murder case involving Jang Yoon-gi.

[(Could you tell us what evidence you have secured?) ......]

The prosecution has booked Inspector A, the team leader, and Investigator B, both of whom were involved in the case, on charges including the leakage of official secrets and destruction of evidence. Investigators searched Inspector A's residence, as well as the offices of the Criminal Investigation Division and the Women and Juvenile Affairs Division at the Gwangsan Police Station.

The search also extended to the current workplace of the former head of the Criminal Investigation Division and the office of the Gwangsan Police Station chief, signaling that the prosecution intends to investigate potential involvement from higher-ranking officials.

The investigation is expected to focus primarily on the suspected collusion between the police team and Jang's father, a police inspector in the Gwangju area.

It was found that immediately after the murder occurred on May 5, the police team provided Jang's father with his son's address and password. The father then personally retrieved and destroyed two "real dolls" from Jang's residence, which were key pieces of evidence proving the sexual assault.

Allegations have also been raised that the police team shared confidential investigation details with the father, including the planned timing of the arrest warrant application and the contents of the warrant.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the team received a DNA analysis report on the real dolls from the National Forensic Service but failed to submit it, only sending it to the prosecution after its existence was recently uncovered. Additionally, it was discovered that Inspector A recently ordered a subordinate to delete a video showing cable ties found during a search of Jang's vehicle, which are believed to be tools used in the kidnapping and sexual assault.

The prosecution reportedly secured multiple call recordings from the father's mobile phone during a search and seizure operation in May, which captured various signs of collusion between the father and the police team. It is understood that the prosecution re-secured this mobile phone today, July 7.

The prosecution has reportedly confirmed a conversation from May 6, the day after Jang was emergency arrested, in which Investigator B told the father, "An order has come down from the higher-ups to keep it a secret that you, the father of Jang Yoon-gi, are a police officer."

(Video by Jung Gyeong-mun | Video Editing by Shin Se-eun)