The Inspector Is Getting Promoted! [EN]: Chapter 224

Park Yun-gyu sighed deeply, seemingly unable to speak.

Just because Director Heo Seung-geon and Vice Chairman Hong Tae-min both have DNA that matches the perpetrator doesn’t mean they are co-conspirators.

If that were the case, the result wouldn’t be a DNA match; rather, the suspect’s DNA would have been divided into two from the beginning, indicating two perpetrators.

I looked at him and said calmly,

“Please tell me the truth.”

Center Director Park Yun-gyu took a deep breath and spoke again.

“The DNA seems to be damaged.”

“Pardon?”

“Unless they are identical twins, DNA cannot match. The base sequence is…”

He started to give a scientific explanation but stopped himself, thinking it would become too complicated.

“Anyway, it’s scientifically impossible. So, suspecting something was wrong, we directly tested our researchers’ DNA, and the result was also a match.”

“The fact that such a result came out means…”

“In short, it means that if you’re a man without genetic issues, the result will be a match for everyone.”

“If you test my DNA, will the result also indicate that I’m a suspect?”

“That’s correct.”

Those sons of bitches at the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.

This was why they confidently agreed when we initially suggested the DNA test.

If Director Heo Seung-geon is identified as a suspect through the National Forensic Service [a government agency responsible for forensic analysis], they can legally prevent the DNA of Vice Chairman Hong Tae-min from being tested.

In this situation, a new suspect is unlikely to emerge.

They probably anticipated that we wouldn’t easily comply, but they seemed to think we wouldn’t figure out their trick.

Center Director Park Yun-gyu wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and continued.

“Actually, this isn’t entirely unprecedented. NDFC [National Digital Forensic Center] doesn’t conduct that many tests, so this doesn’t happen often, but DNA damage occurs regularly at the National Forensic Service, about once or twice a year.”

I know.

A well-known example widely known to the public is the Hwaseong female college student murder case that occurred in 2004.

At that time, DNA was collected and tested from a total of 4,600 people, including taxi drivers in the Hwaseong area, taxi drivers in Suwon, and ex-convicts, who were suspected of being the perpetrator, but not a single person matched the suspect.

However, more than a decade later, a researcher’s confession revealed that the researcher’s sweat had mixed into the suspect’s DNA sample during the National Forensic Service’s examination.

Therefore, the comparison target of the DNA test was not the murderer but the researcher.

In the end, even if the real culprit was among the many people whose DNA was collected, it could not be revealed due to the National Forensic Service’s mistake.

“To conclude, the DNA we have secured now is damaged and cannot be used?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Center Director Park Yun-gyu said cautiously.

“Although it doesn’t happen often, the probability of DNA damage is very low. Considering this…”

“It’s certain that the Western District Prosecutor’s Office interfered.”

“That’s right.”

While slowly organizing my thoughts, a question suddenly arose, and I asked him,

“But if the Western District Prosecutor’s Office was going to interfere, wouldn’t it have been better to replace the suspect’s DNA with Director Heo Seung-geon’s DNA instead of damaging it?”

“Ah, that’s impossible. The DNA initially came from the hospital, and there are several procedures in place, so it’s not easy to swap it out. Rather, using modern technology to damage the DNA like now is much simpler. A specific reagent is all it takes…”

It must have been the best option they could make for security reasons.

“I understand for now. Please keep this fact a secret from the media. And from other district prosecutor’s offices as well.”

“Yes. But…”

Center Director Park Yun-gyu cautiously opened his mouth.

“Actually, NDFC isn’t as well-known as the National Forensic Service. The National Forensic Service does make mistakes like this once or twice a year, but they always cover it up, so it’s rarely known outside. But we can be seen as rivals to them…”

I could guess the rest without hearing it.

He wants the National Forensic Service’s mistakes to be exposed so that NDFC’s status can rise even a little higher.

If it weren’t for NDFC’s help in this case, we would have been completely deceived by the Western District Prosecutor’s Office’s scheme.

I can certainly grant that much.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I smiled lightly.

“However, it’s a bit difficult to do it right now, so let’s reveal it together when the case is settled. Please wait until then.”

“Of course. That way, we can stand out more too.”

Center Director Park Yun-gyu stood up from his seat, filled with anticipation.

“I look forward to you taking down the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.”

***

I revisited the case from the beginning.

When the case was first revealed to the media, the KM Group side had an MD [Medical Doctor] from the club confess and presented him as the perpetrator.

However, the victim commissioned a private company to conduct a test, revealing that the suspect was not the real culprit.

Therefore, our Central District Prosecutor’s Office requested the DNA information from the private company, but the response from the private company was, ‘As soon as the DNA test results are released, all information is irreversibly destroyed to protect the client’s identity, so we cannot confirm it.’

In the end, the conclusion is that the DNA sample at the National Forensic Service is all there is.

The Western District Prosecutor’s Office must have checked this in advance and acted accordingly.

That’s why those guys took a gamble, in a word.

If the fact that the suspect’s DNA sample was tampered with is revealed, it’s a clear fact that the related researchers at the National Forensic Service will be fired, and even the associated prosecutors will be fired as well.

Also, if the media reports this, the victim’s unfairness will be aggravated, and the people who learn about this fact will be furious and pressure the President with a petition to the Blue House [the executive office of the President of South Korea].

In the end, even the head of the Western District Prosecutor’s Office will not be able to avoid Choi Gyu-hyun’s iron fist [harsh punishment].

The only reason they had no choice but to gamble with their fate is that Vice Chairman Hong Tae-min was the real culprit.

So, the Western District Prosecutor’s Office thought this DNA test was a crucial point and staked everything on it.

If we had overlooked this DNA damage, the Western District Prosecutor’s Office would have immediately announced to the media that the test results pointed to Heo Seung-geon as the real culprit, preventing us from taking further action.

If the Special Investigations Department tried to refute it even a little, they would have criticized the Central District Prosecutor’s Office for being stubborn for the sake of performance and ultimately concluded the case by punishing Heo Seung-geon.

However, fortunately, Yoon Seol-ha brought Vice Chairman Hong Tae-min’s DNA, allowing us to recognize their scheme and turn the tables.

However, just because this result came out doesn’t mean we’ve won.

Looking at it closely, we’ve ultimately returned to square one.

The DNA that can confirm the suspect has disappeared, and Heo Seung-geon is still claiming that he is the criminal.

From now on, it can be seen as a real battle.

Frankly speaking, in this situation, it’s much easier and more advantageous to hide the culprit than to find him.

It’s not just anyone, and Director Heo Seung-geon was at the scene of the incident, making him an easy target to be identified as a suspect.

But I don’t feel even a little bit overwhelmed or that we’ll be pushed back by the Western District Prosecutor’s Office.

Because the Special Investigations Department always reverses the situation and reveals the truth even in these circumstances.

We will win.

***

Knock, knock.

“Oh, come in.”

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Ha-young entered as the door opened.

Her cheeks were quite flushed, as if she had run in urgently, and she was even holding a cell phone that was on a call.

“Chief Prosecutor!”

As I raised my head, she gasped and said,

“I’m on the phone with Prosecutor Nam Min-je right now, and he says he has something urgent to report to you. But your cell phone is turned off…”

I had forgotten that the battery had died a little while ago.

“What’s going on?”

“I reported that Prosecutor Nam Min-je went to the provinces a while ago, right?”

I remember.

He said he went down to Geoje Island to find one of the missing MDs who was working at the club during the sexual assault case.

“Prosecutor Nam has finally found that person, but he says he won’t talk unless it’s to you.”

As I gestured, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jang Ha-young politely handed me the phone.

“Hey, Prosecutor Nam.”

-Yes, Chief Prosecutor. I’m sorry to contact you so suddenly.

“No, tell me.”

-I’m talking to Mr. Kim Bu-won now… well, the person I mentioned back then, and after a long persuasion, he said he would tell the truth about what he saw with his own eyes. But he’s still anxious and says he won’t talk unless it’s in front of you, so I urgently called you.

“Is Mr. Kim Bu-won next to you?”

-He went out for a cigarette for a moment… Ah, he’s here.

“Put him on the phone.”

-Okay.

After I heard him explaining over the phone, an unfamiliar man’s voice was heard.

-Hello?

“Hello, Mr. Kim Bu-won. This is Choi Seo-jun.”

-Ah….

He let out a low exclamation and continued.

-It’s really you.

“Yes. You said you wanted to talk to me directly…”

-That’s right. I didn’t come down to Geoje Island for no reason.

Looking at his attitude now, he seems to know something.

Even in this situation where the DNA evidence is damaged, I was desperate for any small hint.

“Shall I go to Geoje Island?”

-No. That’s a bit….

I could feel a sense of worry in his voice.

Considering that he said he came down for a reason, he must be worried that someone might harm him.

-I’ll go to Seoul.

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

-Yes. Anyway, it’s impossible to fix all of this here. It’s also ambiguous to talk about it over the phone. I’ll go up and tell you.

“Then we’ll arrange transportation and accommodation separately. That’ll be safer. You can move with Prosecutor Nam Min-je.”

That way, the Western District Prosecutor’s Office or the KM Group won’t be able to touch him recklessly.

Also, even if Kim Bu-won tries to change his mind in the middle, Prosecutor Nam Min-je will be there to hold him back.

-Okay.

“Yes. I’ll see you in Seoul.”

I ended the call with those words and instructed Deputy Chief Jang Ha-young.

“Prepare a plane ticket so he can come up as soon as possible. And accommodation as well.”

“Understood.”

It became even clearer through the phone call.

Kim Bu-won didn’t go to Geoje Island for a simple reason.

The KM Group or the Western District Prosecutor’s Office had an influence.

In other words, this man holds the key to the case.

I have to meet him.

He will be the clue to this case.