Probe into Alleged Collusion Involving Jang Yoon-gi's Father Leads to Exclusion of Gwangju Police Command Line

The National Police Agency said it would thoroughly investigate the alleged destruction of evidence that surfaced during the probe after the arrest of Jang Yoon-gi, the suspect in the murder of a high school girl, to leave no doubt unresolved.
At a regular press briefing at the police headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 6th, Hong Seok-gi, chief of the National Office of Investigation, said, "I have nothing to say about the controversy," adding, "The National Police Agency immediately launched an inspection into the investigation, and during that process, matters were found that needed to be turned over to a criminal probe, so a strict investigation was ordered."
On the same day, the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency urgently arrested A, a senior inspector from the criminal division at Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, who was in charge of the Jang Yoon-gi case, on suspicion of destroying evidence. A, who led the case team, is accused of destroying some evidence while searching Jang's sport utility vehicle (SUV) on May 5, shortly after the incident.
Police handed over key evidence, including the SUV used in the crime and the damaged sex doll found in Jang's studio room, to the family at the early stage of the investigation without preserving the physical items. As Jang's father was reported to be a mid-level police officer on active duty, an inspection into whether the investigation was properly handled from the arrest to the transfer to prosecutors was launched, and police later opened a formal criminal probe after signs of wrongdoing emerged.
Hong explained, "During the inspection, related matters were reported, and we ordered an investigation," adding, "Because there were concerns, we excluded the entire existing criminal line from the team." He continued, "Except for the existing criminal team, the case is being handled by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit, which can ensure objectivity." He declined to comment on the specific findings from the inspection. Hong said, "There are many people involved, so if I go into detail, it could create several problems for the investigation. I ask for your understanding."
When asked whether the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency itself would also be included in the inspection, he said it was "hard to prejudge," but added, "Based on what has been confirmed, anyone in the related chain, not only at the police station but elsewhere as well, could become subject to either an inspection or an investigation."
He also addressed the renewed controversy over the family exemption provision. Article 155 of the Criminal Act punishes anyone who destroys evidence in another person's criminal case, but it includes an exception under which family members are not punished if they commit the act for a relative.
Hong said, "Aside from this case, when conducting ordinary investigations, there are parts where a provision that was created out of necessity becomes problematic in exceptional situations," adding, "I hope the National Assembly will sort it out properly through legislation."
Meanwhile, the National Office of Investigation decided to expand the task force set up at the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency into a special investigation team named the "Special Investigation Team to Uncover the Truth in the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station Murder Case" in order to thoroughly clarify the various allegations raised during the investigation.
Earlier, the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency had formed a 22-member task force led by the head of the investigation division to determine whether there had been collusion between Jang Yoon-gi's father and investigators. But as suspicions surrounding the case spread, the force was expanded into a special investigation team at the National Office of Investigation level to strengthen the independence and fairness of the probe.
The special investigation team will be headed by Hong Jang-deuk, a chief superintendent and the National Police Agency's investigation and human rights officer. The agency plans to add six more people, including a team leader and investigators from the Major Crime Investigation Division at headquarters, bringing the team to 27 members in total. The special team will also exclude the Gwangju police command line, conduct the investigation independently, and report only the final results to the chief of the National Office of Investigation.
The National Police Agency said, "We will conduct a thorough investigation into the entire process, including the allegations reported by the media, so that no doubt remains."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter