Exclusive: Suspicions of Collusion Between Murder Suspect's Father and Police Investigation Team

[Anchor]

We will now present a series of exclusive reports on the events surrounding the father of Jang Yoon-gi, a suspect in the murder of a high school girl in Gwangju, and his actions before and after destroying evidence of his son's crime. Circumstances have emerged suggesting that the police investigation team may be linked to this case. It has been revealed that just before Inspector Jang, the father, destroyed key evidence of his son's sex crime, he spoke directly with Jang Yoon-gi to ask if he had discarded his mobile phone. The call between Jang Yoon-gi, who was in custody at the time, and Inspector Jang was connected by a police officer who was investigating the case.

First, here is the exclusive report by reporter Kim Deok-hyun.

[Reporter Kim Deok-hyun]

Around 12:10 a.m. on May 5, Jang Yoon-gi, who murdered the late Lee Chae-won, threw his mobile phone into a nearby river immediately after the crime.

Jang Yoon-gi was arrested by police on the morning of the crime and was formally detained two days later. The day after his detention, his father, Inspector Jang, visited his son's studio apartment, dismantled two sex dolls, and discarded them in various locations around Gwangju.

However, SBS has confirmed that a direct phone call took place between Jang Yoon-gi and his father, Inspector Jang, before the inspector destroyed the key evidence, including the sex dolls.

It is reported that during the call, Inspector Jang asked his son if it was true that he had thrown his mobile phone into the river immediately after the crime.

Jang Yoon-gi, who was in custody at the time, was not permitted to make direct calls to outsiders. It has been confirmed that the call between him and his father was connected by a police officer from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team, which was handling the case.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Inspector Jang had multiple phone conversations with other members of the Gwangsan Police Station investigation team while the investigation into his son was ongoing.

A serving police officer, known to have experience in investigation departments, was in direct communication with the officers assigned to his son's case.

In response to inquiries from SBS, the police stated, "Jang Yoon-gi was not cooperating with the investigation, so we had his father persuade him," adding, "We did not provide any favors to the suspect."

(Video Editing: Shin Se-eun, Design: Kim Han-gil)

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[Anchor]

There are further circumstances raising suspicions of a connection between Jang Yoon-gi's father, a police officer, and the investigation team. Before destroying the evidence, Inspector Jang did not know the address of his son's residence. However, our investigation confirmed that the head of the investigation team provided him with both the address and the door lock passcode. It was also revealed that Inspector Jang frequently communicated not only with the team leader but also with other members of the investigation team with whom he had worked in the past.

Next is an exclusive report by reporter Ahn Hee-jae.

[Reporter Ahn Hee-jae]

Until his son, Jang Yoon-gi, was apprehended for the brutal murder of the late Lee Chae-won, Inspector Jang did not know where his son, who lived separately, resided.

Nevertheless, he was able to visit his son's room on May 8 and dispose of the two sex dolls because he had received the relevant information from the police.

It has been confirmed that this information was provided to Inspector Jang by the head of the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team handling the Jang Yoon-gi case.

It was found that the team leader provided Inspector Jang with not only the address of Jang Yoon-gi's home but also the door lock passcode.

According to SBS, circumstances have also emerged suggesting that a key investigator on the same team, identified as A, leaked investigation-related information while speaking with Inspector Jang on several occasions.

Inspector Jang was already acquainted with both individuals, and in particular, A had worked with him at the same workplace in the past.

As allegations arise that the investigation team for the high school girl's murder effectively acted as a bridge between the father and son, the police have been thrown into a state of flux.

The National Police Agency's inspection team reportedly questioned the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team today regarding the entirety of their initial investigation.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency told SBS, "We humbly accept the inspection and will cooperate faithfully according to principle."

However, they clarified, "We are not aware of any facts suggesting the investigation team aided in the destruction of evidence or leaked information."

The National Police Agency stated it would examine all raised allegations and plans to conduct an in-person interview with Inspector Jang once the review of records is complete.

(Video Editing: Jeon Min-gyu, Design: Choi Jin-hoe)

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[Anchor]

During the prosecution's investigation, further questionable handling of the case by the police has been uncovered. The police had explained that there was no need to seize the sex dolls destroyed by the father because they had already collected DNA samples and requested an analysis. However, it has been confirmed that when the case was transferred to the prosecution, the report containing these analysis results was not included.

Reporter Jeon Yeon-nam has the story.

[Reporter Jeon Yeon-nam]

After emergency arresting Jang Yoon-gi on the morning of May 5 for the murder of the late Lee Chae-won, the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station investigation team immediately conducted a search and seizure of his residence and vehicle to secure evidence, including the murder weapon.

Although they discovered two sex dolls during this process, they did not seize the items, and three days later, the suspect's father, Inspector Jang, visited his son's home and destroyed them.

When this was first revealed in an exclusive SBS report on the 1st, sparking controversy over the destruction of evidence related to Jang Yoon-gi's sex crime, the police explained that there was no need to seize the dolls because the forensic team had already sufficiently collected DNA from them.

They also emphasized that they had requested a DNA analysis from the National Forensic Service and had received a report.

However, it has been confirmed that the police did not include the report containing the DNA analysis results when they transferred the case to the prosecution.

They omitted key evidence that could have been used to investigate and prove that Jang Yoon-gi's crime was committed for the purpose of sexual violence.

It is reported that the report contained not only the analysis of the sex dolls but also the results of genetic analysis from Jang Yoon-gi's vehicle and personal belongings.

The prosecution, which was unaware of the existence of the report, reportedly requested the investigation team to send the relevant records yesterday (July 2).

In response, the police explained, "The forensic report was omitted due to an internal system error," and added, "We became aware of the omission and sent it to the prosecution yesterday."

Regarding the exact circumstances of the omission, they added, "An inspection is currently underway."

(Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.