[Anchor]

It has been confirmed that prosecutors have secured a cable tie from the home of Police Inspector Jang, the father of Jang Yoon-gi, the suspect in the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju. This item was discovered in the suspect's vehicle by police but was never seized. We continue our exclusive coverage today, July 8, on how this piece of evidence, which is critical to proving the sexual assault charges, ended up in the father's possession and why the police failed to seize it.

First, here is the exclusive report by Kim Deok-hyeon.

[Reporter]

On May 5, the day of the high school student murder case.

The investigation team at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station discovered a cable tie while arresting Jang Yoon-gi and searching his vehicle.

It is a key piece of evidence that could be suspected as a tool used by Jang to kidnap the victim or for the purpose of committing a sex crime.

Despite this, the police did not seize the cable tie, and they even excluded the video footage of it when referring the case to the prosecution.

The existence of the cable tie, which had remained unknown since Jang's crime, was revealed when the police investigation team leader, Inspector A, was arrested two days ago on charges of destroying evidence.

However, SBS has learned that prosecutors secured the cable tie while searching the home of the suspect's father, Inspector Jang, yesterday morning.

The item is a bundle 40cm in length, and it is understood that Inspector Jang stated to the prosecution that it is indeed the cable tie that was in Jang Yoon-gi's vehicle.

Previously, Inspector Jang had moved the cable tie in question to his family home in South Jeolla Province. It is reported that he moved it to his residence in Gwangju on the night of July 6 after the police recently requested that he submit the item if he was in possession of it.

The fact that the police investigation team did not seize the key evidence and returned the vehicle to Inspector Jang just one day after the crime effectively provided the opportunity for him to move the cable tie elsewhere.

Prosecutors summoned two officials from the police investigation team today to question them about the circumstances of the investigation at the time.

(Video reporting: Lee Byeong-ju | Video editing: Shin Se-eun | Graphics: Jegal Chan)