[Anchor]

We continue our coverage of the case involving Jang Yoon-gi, who is accused of murdering a high school girl. It has been confirmed that Jang's father, a serving police officer, stated during police questioning yesterday (July 8) that he destroyed evidence because "he is his father." Meanwhile, the police investigation into the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team leader, who was arrested on charges of destroying key evidence in the Jang Yoon-gi case, has begun in earnest.

Reporter Son Gijun has the story.

[Reporter]

The police summoned Jang's father, identified by his surname Jang and holding the rank of Inspector, as a witness yesterday afternoon and questioned him for seven hours.

Police pressed Inspector Jang on why he disposed of items found at his son's home, including a sex doll and an old mobile phone.

It is reported that in response to repeated questions from the investigation team, Inspector Jang stated that he acted as he did because "he is his father."

He reportedly did not exercise his right to remain silent and answered most of the questions asked by the police.

Today, the police summoned and questioned two members of the investigation team from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station who were in charge of the initial investigation into the Jang Yoon-gi case.

It is reported that investigators questioned them on whether there was any intervention from so-called higher-ups in the process of conducting a botched investigation, such as neglecting to act upon finding cable ties during the search of Jang Yoon-gi's vehicle.

Their direct supervisor, the Gwangsan Police Station investigation team leader, identified as Inspector A, was arrested last night.

Inspector A, who faced an arrest warrant on charges of destroying evidence, denied all allegations, claiming he had "never even met Jang Yoon-gi's father." However, the court ruled that there were concerns regarding the destruction of evidence and flight risk.

The police have initiated forensic procedures to analyze the mobile phone of Inspector A, who is now in custody.

The police believe the phone may contain clues as to why Inspector A helped Jang Yoon-gi's father and whether there was any involvement from higher-ups.

Acting Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency Yoo Jae-sung, who was on a business trip to the United States to attend a UN Chiefs of Police Summit, is cutting his trip short to return early tomorrow morning. He will preside over a video conference with the police leadership to discuss measures regarding the allegations of a botched investigation.

(Video reporting: Lee Byung-ju, Video editing: Choi Hye-ran, Design: Kim Ye-ji)