Exclusive: Police Leaked Investigation Details to Father of Murder Suspect

[Anchor]

We have confirmed that the investigation team handling the Gwangju high school girl murder case tipped off the suspect Jang Yoon-gi's father, a local police officer, about upcoming arrest warrant applications and search and seizure operations. Not only did the police allow Jang to speak with his father on the phone after his arrest—a move made to prevent the destruction of evidence—but they also leaked key details of the investigation schedule. A separate investigation into the investigation team appears inevitable.

Our first report today, July 6, comes from reporter Shin Yong-il.

[Reporter]

Jang Yoon-gi, who brutally murdered a high school girl on the dawn of May 5, was emergency-arrested by police that same morning and was detained under a warrant two days later on May 7.

However, SBS has confirmed that a police officer on the investigation team informed Jang's father, a police inspector surnamed Jang, who is a senior officer in the Gwangju region, about the planned investigation details in advance.

It is reported that an official from the investigation team told Inspector Jang during a phone call that they "planned to apply for an arrest warrant and a search and seizure warrant for his son," sharing specific details about the progress of the investigation.

It is extremely unusual for police to share specific upcoming investigation plans, such as warrant applications, with the side of a criminal suspect, making this a matter that requires an investigation into potential illegality.

Previously, the police failed to seize a sex doll that could have proven Jang's sexual assault charges, as well as the vehicle used in the crime. Furthermore, they did not forward a DNA analysis report confirming the victim's bloodstains to the prosecution.

Additionally, as it was confirmed that the police investigation team even provided Jang's address and password to Inspector Jang, critics have pointed out that this effectively gave the suspect an opportunity to dispose of the sex doll.

There is speculation that the police officer who leaked the investigation information could face charges of leaking official secrets.

When asked by SBS about the circumstances surrounding the leak of investigation information, the police stated that they could not provide an answer as an internal inspection is currently underway. However, calls are growing for a separate investigation into the suspected collusion between the investigation team and Inspector Jang.

(Video reporting: Jung Gyeong-mun, Video editing: Yoon Tae-ho, Design: Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.