▲ Investigators from the Gwangju District Prosecutors Office carry out a search and seizure at the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 15, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ This file photo, taken May 14, 2026, shows murder suspect Jang Yoon-gi being escorted out of a police station in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, to be transferred to the prosecution. (Yonhap)

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details from police briefing; ADDS photo)

GWANGJU, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency as part of a probe into allegations that police officers destroyed evidence and leaked investigative information of a high-profile murder case.

The Gwangju District Prosecutors Office carried out a search-and-seizure warrant at the agency's headquarters in the southwestern city as multiple officers face investigation over the allegations related to the case involving the fatal stabbing of a high school student in May.

The prosecution seeks to secure documents on how senior officers at the agency handled the murder case.

Allegations have intensified over possible ties between local investigators and the father of the murder suspect, Jang Yoon-gi, accused of killing the 16-year-old female victim and attempting to murder a 17-year-old male student.

The suspect's father is a serving police officer in the city.

The raid took place after a local district court issued an arrest warrant last week for the murder case's lead police investigator, surnamed Park, who faces charges of destroying evidence.

A special police team separately investigating the police handling of the case referred Park to the prosecution earlier in the day on charges of destroying evidence, dereliction of duty and abuse of authority.

Park allegedly made instructions to cover up evidence indicating the 23-year-old Jang had sexual motives in the crime, the special police team said in a briefing on the probe's interim findings.

The team accused Park of instructing other investigators not to seize cable ties found inside Jang's car before handing over the vehicle to the suspect's family.

The police had originally sent the case to the prosecution on simple murder charges but prosecutors indicted Jang on charges of murder with intent to rape after conducting a supplementary investigation.

The special team said it also found signs from a phone Jang carried at the time of the crime that indicated he may have known the late victim. Jang previously claimed not knowing the victim.

"(The victim) did not know Jang Yoon-gi but there are signs that suggest (he) intentionally targeted her," a police official said, declining to elaborate further as the matter is under investigation.

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