The former detective chief of the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, identified as responsible for a botched investigation in the "Jang Yun-gi case," appeared for a second detention warrant review.
On the 31st, Jeong Gyo-hyung, the warrant-duty senior judge at the Gwangju District Court, held a pre-detention interrogation of the suspect (substantive warrant review) for Superintendent A of the Gwangju Police Agency, who faces charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of another's exercise of rights, as well as dereliction of duty.
Superintendent A, who arrived at the court around 10:30 a.m. on that day, remained silent in response to reporters asking questions such as whether he would disclose additional investigation reports, and headed to the courtroom for the substantive warrant review.
The substantive warrant review, which began at 11 a.m. that day, ended after about one hour and 28 minutes, similar to the first review. While being moved by police transport vehicle, Superintendent A said, "I am sorry to the bereaved family for causing the botched investigation controversy," adding, "I responded sincerely to the review."
Superintendent A's legal counsel told reporters gathered at the scene, "The main purpose of the additional detention warrant request is that 'in order to conceal the mishandling of crimes such as stalking that Jang Yun-gi committed against a female part-time work colleague just before killing the high school girl, the rape-murder charge was not applied,' but this is merely one scenario," stating, "There were no problems in handling the case."
The counsel added, "Only the on-site team that examined the vehicle knew of the existence of the cable ties," and, "The very fact that the five circumstances suggesting rape-murder were recorded in the final additional report was left with the meaning of asking the prosecution to clarify them."
Superintendent A faces charges of poorly directing the investigation as the detective chief of the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, which handled the case in May when Jang Yun-gi killed the second-year high school girl. At the time, police forwarded Jang Yun-gi to the prosecution on charges of "simple murder," which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, rather than "murder for the purpose of rape," which can be punished with at least life imprisonment.
After the first detention review, Superintendent A's legal counsel disclosed part of the contents of the police's additional report written at the time Jang Yun-gi was forwarded in May this year, claiming, "The rape-murder charge was also reviewed during the investigation process."
Superintendent A also underwent a substantive warrant review on the same charges on the 21st of this month. At the time, the court rejected the detention warrant, judging that "considering the degree of proof of the criminal charges based on the collected evidence and the room for dispute, it is difficult to acknowledge grounds or reasonableness for detention."
In response, the National Police Agency's "Jang Yun-gi Case Special Investigation Unit for Fact-Finding" reinforced materials and statements and again requested a pre-detention warrant for Superintendent A. The purpose of this second detention warrant request is reported to also include the concern that Superintendent A's side is "engaging in media play that distorts the facts." Whether the detention warrant for Superintendent A will be issued is expected to be decided late that night.
