Gwangju: The prosecution on Tuesday conducted a raid at a police station in the southwestern city of Gwangju as they investigate an alleged leak of details from a high-profile murder case. The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office dispatched investigators to perform a search and seizure operation at the Gwangsan Police Station. The raid arises from suspicions that several police officers may have leaked sensitive investigative information and destroyed evidence connected to the fatal stabbing of a high school student.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in May, authorities arrested 23-year-old Jang Yoon-gi, accusing him of murdering a 17-year-old female student and attempting to murder a 17-year-old male student in Gwangju. The police team responsible for investigating the case is under scrutiny for purportedly mishandling critical evidence, including Jang's vehicle, cable ties found within it, and a damaged sex doll discovered at his residence. Additionally, there are allegations that officers leaked confidential case details to the murder suspect's father, himself an active-duty police officer.
The prosecution extended their raid to the homes of the implicated police officers. The handling of this case by the police has drawn significant public attention, leading the National Police Agency (NPA) to establish a special investigation team to examine the misconduct allegations. On Tuesday, the special investigation team sought an arrest warrant for the officer who led the murder investigation, citing charges of evidence destruction due to the failure to secure the cable ties from Jang's vehicle.
Legal experts and police have noted that prosecuting Jang's father might be challenging due to a law providing immunity to those acting on behalf of their own kin. Meanwhile, the NPA announced that the head of the investigation team at Gwangsan Police Station has been relieved of duty, and five others at the station, including its chief, will face reassignment. Earlier in the day, the NPA issued a press release indicating that internal disciplinary actions could still be pursued. They stated that if misconduct is confirmed through internal investigation, disciplinary measures could be enacted under pertinent legislation, such as the State Public Officials Act and the decree on disciplinary action against police officials.