Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said there is a need to review improving the "kinship special provisions," after it emerged that the father of "Gwangju high school girl killer" Jang Yoon-gi, while serving as an active-duty police officer, destroyed evidence yet avoided punishment under those provisions.
The Minister said in a post on Facebook on the 1st, "It has come to light that the father of Jang Yoon-gi, the perpetrator of the 'Gwangju schoolgirl stabbing murder case,' destroyed evidence while he was an active-duty police officer," and stated accordingly.
The Minister said, "At the stage of the prosecution's supplementary investigation, we confirmed the existence of evidence that had not been seized in the police investigation and uncovered Jang Yoon-gi's intent to commit a sex crime," adding, "We brought the case to trial not as the simple murder the police initially referred, but on charges including 'murder with intent to rape.'"
Simple murder carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, but murder with intent to rape allows only the death penalty or life imprisonment, making the sentence heavier.
The Minister pointed out that "it is a reality that it is difficult to punish immediately even though the father, an active-duty police officer, destroyed key evidence."
Article 155 of the Criminal Act stipulates punishment for those who destroy evidence related to another person's criminal case, but when a relative commits a crime for the sake of family, the "kinship special provisions" exempt punishment.
In this regard, the Minister emphasized, "Last year, the 'family-relationship special exemption' provision, which had exempted punishment for property crimes such as theft and fraud within families, was abolished in line with the times," adding, "It is also necessary to review whether there are aspects of the kinship special provisions that should be improved."
He added, "We will do our utmost until the end so that appropriate punishment can be handed down for the unjust death of the late Lee Chae-won."