Police officers face trial for evidence destruction in Jang Yun-gi case

The first trial regarding police officers accused of aiding the destruction of evidence in the Jang Yun-gi murder case is scheduled to begin at the Gwangju District Court on the 14th.

Inspector Park, a former violent crimes team leader at the Gwangsan Police Station, and Sergeant A are facing charges of aiding evidence destruction. Prosecutors allege that during the investigation of Jang Yun-gi’s murder of a high school girl in May, the officers conspired to return a vehicle containing key evidence, such as cable ties, to Jang’s father. They are also accused of allowing the father to dispose of specific items found during a search of Jang’s residence and instructing team members to delete video footage of the evidence.

Sergeant A is accused of leaking sensitive investigative details, including plans for arrest warrants and the seizure of mobile devices, to Jang’s father, a former colleague. The misconduct came to light during a supplementary investigation by prosecutors, who upgraded the charges against Jang to rape-murder. Additionally, four former and current high-ranking police officials, including former National Investigation Headquarters Chief Park Seong-ju, have been indicted on charges of abuse of authority for allegedly ordering the separation of the murder investigation from other related crimes.