[Anchor]
The police investigating former lawmaker Jang Je-won for sexual assault allegations have secured and are analyzing text messages sent by Jang to the victim.
Jang, who denies all allegations, insists that he never went to the hotel, raising interest in the contents of the messages he sent at the time. Reporter Oh Seung-ryeol reports.
[Reporter]
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been investigating former lawmaker Jang Je-won for sexual assault allegations since January.
In November 2015, they captured testimonies and circumstances suggesting that Jang sexually assaulted his then-secretary, referred to as A, in a hotel room in Gangnam, Seoul.
At the time, Jang was the vice-chancellor of a university established by his father in Busan, and A was working as his secretary.
After JTBC reported on this yesterday (4th), Jang refuted the claims, stating that “nearly ten years have passed” and alleging suspicions of a conspiracy behind the sudden accusation.
Jang claimed the “sexual assault is a false accusation” and explained that he “never stayed overnight anywhere.”
However, it was confirmed that the police have secured and are analyzing text messages Jang sent to secretary A on the morning of November 18, 2015.
At around 8:40 a.m. that day, Jang sent multiple messages saying things like, “How do you think I feel if you just leave like that?”
He is also known to have repeatedly sent messages expressing intentions such as “Please answer the phone,” “At least tell me where you are,” and “Please respond.”
The police are focusing on the timing when Jang began sending these messages, noting it was just after the victim claimed to have left the hotel.
They are reportedly examining other text messages and records from the time based on such circumstances.
Jang announced his intention to leave his political party, stating he would “certainly clear his name and return.”
[Video editing by Lee Ji-hoon / Video design by Kwak Se-mi]