Authorities are investigating allegations of police misconduct in the case of Jang Yoon-ki, who is accused of murdering a high school girl he had never met. The National Police Agency's Special Investigation Team has summoned a senior officer who was part of the command line during the investigation.
On July 12, the Special Investigation Team questioned Officer A, who was the head of the Criminal Investigation Division at the Gwangsan Police Station at the time of the incident. Officer A is known to have led the investigation from the arrest of Jang Yoon-ki to his detention and transfer to the prosecution.
The Special Investigation Team is focusing on the decision-making process that led to the application of a lesser charge of general murder instead of the more severe charge of rape and murder against Jang Yoon-ki.
Additionally, the team is investigating Officer B, the former head of the investigation team, who has been arrested on charges of evidence destruction. They are looking into why cable ties were found in the suspect's vehicle but were not secured as evidence, as well as multiple phone calls made between Officer B and Jang Yoon-ki's father, who is also a police officer. The investigation also includes whether any preferential treatment was given to Jang Yoon-ki during parental visits in detention.
Previously, the Special Investigation Team conducted surprise searches of the offices of the Gwangju Police Chief and the Gwangsan Police Station Chief. All individuals involved in the searches have been questioned as witnesses. The team is analyzing the seized materials to determine if there was any undue influence or requests from higher-ups regarding the application of the general murder charge.
This investigation was prompted by revelations that Jang Yoon-ki's father, a current police officer, may have destroyed key evidence, including a realistic doll and cable ties, that could prove the crime was committed for sexual purposes, or that the investigation team neglected to secure this evidence.
As allegations of leaked investigation details and collusion within the police force have emerged, both the prosecution and police are conducting simultaneous investigations into the case.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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