[Anchor]

Our news team has confirmed the recent statements made to the police special investigation unit by the former team leader of the Jang Yoon-gi case, who is currently under arrest. The police are focusing their investigative efforts on determining whether there was any intervention from higher-ranking officials based on these testimonies.

Here is an exclusive report by An Huijae.

[Reporter]

Police Inspector A, the former investigation team leader at Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, was arrested on charges of destroying evidence following allegations of a botched investigation into the Jang Yoon-gi case.

[Inspector A / Former Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station Investigation Team Leader (July 8): (Do you admit to the charges of destroying evidence?) ......]

It has been learned that during four recent police interrogations, Inspector A testified that his superior, Criminal Investigation Division Chief Park, decided to apply the charge of murder rather than rape-murder, claiming there was "insufficient evidence for rape-murder," and that he agreed and followed those instructions.

According to SBS's investigation, Inspector A also stated that he "never once reported in person to Gwangsan Police Station Chief Kim," a Superintendent General, regarding the application of charges.

Superintendent General Kim is also known to maintain the position that he "only received reports through the Criminal Investigation Division Chief."

The police special investigation unit booked all three individuals, who held responsibility for the investigation, on charges of abuse of power today, July 14.

The police have reportedly uncovered circumstances suggesting that these individuals inappropriately intervened in the process of applying a general murder charge, despite internal opinions within the investigation team that a rape-murder charge should have been applied to Jang Yoon-gi.

In particular, as they deny allegations of collusion with Jang Yoon-gi's father, the investigation is focusing on whether there was any intervention from even higher levels.

The special investigation unit is also reportedly examining the process by which the Jang Yoon-gi case was split and assigned to departments such as the Women and Youth Affairs Division, rather than being handled exclusively by the Criminal Investigation Division at the Gwangsan Police Station.

The suspicion is that this fragmented investigation may have been intended to prevent the substantiation of intent for sexual assault.

With the deadline for Inspector A's detention and referral to the prosecution approaching, the police plan to announce the interim results of the investigation tomorrow, July 15.

(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin, Video editing: Park Ji-in)