[Anchor]

During the investigation into the Jang Yoon-gi case, it has been alleged that a suggestion within the police investigation team to consider applying the charge of rape-murder was suppressed by the team leader. The police are now expanding their investigation, suspecting that there may have been interference from higher-ups in this decision.

Reporter Kim su-yun has the story.

[Reporter]

On May 12, two days before the police referred Jang Yoon-gi to the prosecution on charges of murder, members of the investigation team at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station reportedly suggested, "Should we consider applying the charge of rape-murder?" However, police have obtained information that the team leader, Inspector A, dismissed the suggestion, asking, "Can you prove it with only circumstantial evidence?"

The special investigation team has secured testimony from an investigator who was part of the original team at the time.

The special investigation team summoned Inspector A yesterday (July 10) for questioning regarding these allegations, marking his first summons since his arrest on July 8.

The police suspect that there was interference from higher-ups, as they believe Inspector A, who claimed he had "never met Jang Yoon-gi's father," had no personal motive to suppress the team's internal opinion that the rape-murder charge was necessary.

It was also revealed that Jang Yoon-gi's father, an officer surnamed Jang, recently submitted his mobile phone to the police but had deleted all call recording files.

The deleted files were reportedly deemed unrecoverable.

The police plan to conduct an investigation into the leadership of the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station in the near future.

The investigation appears to be expanding in earnest toward higher-ranking officials.

Yesterday, the prosecution booked a former Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station chief, Superintendent General Kim, who was placed on standby on July 7, on charges including leaking official secrets and aiding in the destruction of evidence. They also conducted a surprise search and seizure of the police station chief's office.

The police have secured testimony from an official at the Gwangsan Police Station stating that on May 5, the day Jang Yoon-gi committed the crime, Superintendent General Kim said during a countermeasure meeting he presided over, "I instructed Inspector A to go and meet Officer Jang."

Superintendent General Kim did not respond to questions from SBS asking for the reason behind such an instruction.

An official from the special investigation team emphasized, "We will examine all allegations thoroughly, regardless of whether they involve those above, below, or to the side."

(Video reporting: Lee Byeong-ju, Video editing: Kim Jin-won, Design: Kang Yoon-jung)