Investigation Team Leader Detained and Referred to Prosecution for Failing to Secure Evidence in 'Jang Yoon-gi Case'

Failed to Secure Evidence Such as Sex Doll and Cable Ties Despite Being Aware of Their Existence

The head of the police investigation team who failed to secure key evidence such as a sex doll and cable ties while investigating the case of Jang Yoon-gi, who murdered a high school girl he did not know, was referred to the prosecution under detention.

The Special Investigation Team of the National Office of Investigation announced on the 15th that Police Lieutenant A, a former head of the investigative team at Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, had been referred to the prosecution under arrest on charges including evidence tampering, abuse of authority, obstruction of the exercise of rights, and dereliction of duty.

On the 15th, a transport vehicle carrying Detective A, who was arrested on charges including evidence tampering at the Gwangju Northern Police Station in Buk-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, is moving. Photo by Yonhap News

Police Lieutenant A is accused of knowing about the existence of crucial evidence such as a sex doll and cable ties during the investigation of Jang Yoon-gi's murder case, which occurred in May, but failing to secure them. He is also accused of not properly clarifying the motive behind Jang Yoon-gi's crime, despite bearing that responsibility.

During the initial investigation, the police excluded the possibility of a sexual assault motive and referred Jang Yoon-gi to the prosecution on a simple murder charge rather than on charges of rape and murder. Under the Criminal Act, the statutory penalty for murder is death, life imprisonment, or a minimum of five years in prison. However, the punishment for rape and murder under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes is either death or life imprisonment, which is more severe.

The National Office of Investigation launched an investigation immediately after suspicions arose about collusion and evidence tampering between Jang Yoon-gi's father, who is an incumbent police officer, and the investigative team. On the 6th of this month, they took Police Lieutenant A into custody and have been conducting an investigation with him in detention. The investigation has since widened, and the previous Gwangsan Police Station chief and former criminal affairs chief, who were part of the supervisory line, were also booked as suspects yesterday.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.