Chapter 746: Chapter 269: Eight Courts in Session, The Court is Overwhelmed!_3

"Now, this court pronounces the following judgments on the seventeen individuals in this case:

Cheng Chuxiao, for wantonly spreading false and untrue information on the internet, is convicted of defamation and is sentenced according to law to three years in prison;

For causing immense damage to the reputation and credibility of the nursing home online, is convicted of damaging business and commodity reputation and is sentenced according to law to one year in prison;

For publicly releasing a statement online demanding Zhang Qingyuan and the nursing home pay illegal compensation of fifty thousand yuan, is convicted of extortion and is sentenced according to law to three years in prison;

For organizing so-called illegal rights defenders online, illegally gathering, and asking them to help spread and exacerbate the situation, is convicted of illegal business operations and is sentenced according to law to two years in prison;

On her personal social platform, for repeatedly posting pictures of a dead pet dog and demanding Zhang Qingyuan kneel and apologize, is convicted of the crime of insult and is sentenced according to law to one year in prison.

Therefore, combining the above offenses, Cheng Chuxiao is to serve a cumulative sentence of ten years in prison, according to the law. She is ordered to apologize to the plaintiff, pay compensation of one hundred and fifty thousand yuan for the damages to the nursing home, pay Zhang Qingyuan a total of fifty thousand yuan for psychological damage, nutrition fees, and lost wages, and pay Qin Mu five thousand yuan for psychological damage."

The string of charges was read out. A solemn voice echoed continuously throughout the courtroom.

In the defendant’s dock, however, when the defendants heard this judgment, their expressions changed dramatically.

The one most affected... was undoubtedly Cheng Chuxiao.

Her eyes widened; for a moment, she doubted her own hearing. She was the first to be sentenced, yet the judgment stated ten years, not eight! That was two years more than the sentence Qin Mu had suggested!

"I don’t accept this! Why was I sentenced to an additional two years?" she clenched her teeth and couldn’t help but shout.

From the bench, Zhou Quanmin glanced at her and stated indifferently, "If you do not accept the judgment, you may apply to this court for a retrial or appeal to a higher court within fifteen days from the date this judgment is issued."

Hearing this, Cheng Chuxiao’s expression turned even uglier. After holding out for so long, all the strength in her body dissipated.

CLANG!

She slumped into her seat in the defendant’s dock.

She had persisted for so long for Binbin... and in the end, she got nothing. The judgment was entirely one-sided against her: either imprisonment or compensation. As for Zhang Qingyuan killing her dog, it wasn’t mentioned at all! Her dog didn’t even make it into the judgment document.

"Han Tianming, for adding fuel to the flames in this case, inciting public opinion, disrupting network order, and defaming Zhang Qingyuan, Qin Mu, and the nursing home, is convicted of defamation and sentenced according to law to three years in prison. He is ordered to apologize to Zhang Qingyuan, Qin Mu, and the nursing home. Furthermore, he must pay five thousand yuan to Zhang Qingyuan for psychological damage, five thousand yuan to Qin Mu for psychological damage, and eighty thousand yuan for the nursing home’s losses."

"Zhao Mou, in this case..."

In the courtroom, Zhou Quanmin continued to read, pronouncing the judgments for the remaining sixteen individuals. This judgment was not merely for a private criminal prosecution; it also included a civil lawsuit. The previously unadjudicated civil disputes were also settled in this case.

Upon hearing this outcome, Han Tianming and the others looked equally grim, their faces ashen. They had fought for so long, apologized, and admitted their faults, yet they were still sentenced to three years in prison! There was no probation! The judgment characterized their actions as disrupting network order and illegally inciting public opinion, finding no circumstances applicable for probation.

However, when they saw Cheng Chuxiao beside them, sentenced to an extra two years, they instantly felt a little more balanced. It provided a small measure of psychological comfort. Luckily, they hadn’t given up and made things worse for themselves. Otherwise... it would certainly have been more than three years.

At the same time, court bailiffs entered the courtroom, holding restraints, and walked towards them. They fastened the "silver bracelets" onto their wrists. The defendants dared not resist, allowing the bailiffs to lead them out of the courtroom.

"Xiao Qin, why did it end up being two extra years?" Zhang Qingyuan, at the plaintiff’s table, watched Cheng Chuxiao and the others being led away, his face etched with confusion. Ten years! The cumulative sentence actually reached ten years! He even wondered if he had missed something critical.

Qin Mu offered a slight smile and explained the reasons to Zhang Qingyuan. In the final analysis, it was all caused by Cheng Chuxiao’s own choices and actions. If she had known a little more about the law, she would have understood that a sentencing recommendation is ultimately just a suggestion. As for the actual length of the sentence, that was entirely up to the court to decide. The Judgment Chief and the members of the collegial panel alone possessed the final right of interpretation in this trial. Those who disdained the court, disrespected the law, refused to plead guilty, and maintained an arrogant attitude would not meet a favorable outcome.

Zhang Qingyuan nodded, seemingly understanding. Then, he instinctively looked towards Zhang Wei on the other side. He noticed Zhang Wei appeared particularly lonely and desolate, her expression still showing no signs of recovery.

BOOM—

In the courtroom, Zhou Quanmin struck the gavel again and announced in a deep voice, "Next, this court will adjudicate the cases of the remaining 15,657 defendants. Due to the large number of individuals, the court has decided to establish eight separate tribunals to conduct hearings in batches."

Afterwards, he publicly announced the court schedule. All the court’s other trial chambers were utilized, with separate sessions convened to adjudicate the over fifteen thousand defendants in this case. Each defendant was assigned a number and a batch, allocated to an appropriate trial chamber. The court’s presiding judges, Judgment Chiefs, and deputy Judgment Chiefs were all mobilized for these proceedings, aiming to adjudicate the cases with the utmost efficiency.