[Anchor]

The prosecution's investigation into the police team responsible for the initial investigation of the Jang Yoon-gi case is gaining momentum. Prosecutors have summoned a member of the investigation team as a suspect over allegations that the officer frequently communicated with Jang Yoon-gi's father and leaked confidential investigation details.

Reporter Shin Yong-il has the story.

[Reporter]

The individual summoned by the prosecution is Police Sergeant B from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station.

This marks the first time a member of the police investigation team handling the high school girl murder case has been questioned as a suspect, with charges including the leakage of official secrets.

Sergeant B is known to have previously worked with Jang Yoon-gi's father, Inspector Jang, who is an active-duty police officer in the Gwangju area. Sergeant B is considered one of the key figures in the alleged collusion within the police investigation.

The prosecution previously secured records of multiple phone calls and some audio files between Inspector Jang, who destroyed key evidence such as a real doll during the investigation of the Jang Yoon-gi case, and Sergeant B.

The files reportedly contain content where Sergeant B addresses Inspector Jang with honorifics, calling him "senior," and says, "Everyone is keeping quiet about the fact that Jang Yoon-gi is from a police family. I told them to keep their mouths shut."

Based on this, the prosecution suspects that higher-ranking officials within the police may have attempted to downplay the case.

The prosecution focused its questioning on Sergeant B regarding what investigation details were shared with Inspector Jang and whether there were any directives from higher-ranking police officials.

In addition to Sergeant B, the prosecution has also summoned other members of the investigation team that handled the Jang Yoon-gi case as witnesses.

However, the prosecution plans to conduct a full-scale investigation into Inspector A, who was arrested by the police, only after the case is officially transferred to them.

Reported by Lee Byeong-ju and Jeong Gyeong-mun | Video by Ahn Yeo-jin | Graphics by Lee So-jeong | Produced by SBS Digital News