Chapter 346: Chapter 239: The Trial Begins! Court Hearing!

"How would Zhao Yi rule if he were here?"

A judge suddenly spoke up.

In Zhao Jiaqi’s mind, the image of Judge Zhao Yi appeared instantly.

He is the head of the Criminal Division One at the Hanhai City Intermediate Court...

Oh no, I should say, a member of the adjudication committee at the Lanshan Province High Court, Zhao Yi!

Indeed.

Zhao Yi, the most outstanding in terms of handling pressure in the history of Hanhai City, who didn’t want to be promoted and only wished to retire, ultimately was promoted to the High Court.

Originally, he was supposed to take the position of vice president, but after repeatedly requesting, Zhao Yi still went to the High Court, which is also in the Qingshi City area.

So, why are we talking about him?

"The defense lawyer for the defendant is that lawyer named Xu Liang; if he pulls out any evidence... perhaps it could sway the judge’s way of ruling."

The judge spoke again.

"Maybe we can call and ask."

Unfortunately, after a brief moment of contemplation, Zhao Jiaqi shook his head and vetoed it.

"It’s hard to say; this case differs from previous pure criminal cases."

Ultimately, Zhao Yi was someone from the Criminal Division One, while smuggling counterfeit drugs cases generally fall under the jurisdiction of Criminal Division Two.

Even if they’re both criminal case judges, the fields they handle are worlds apart, and one simply can’t intervene.

Therefore...

Zhao Jiaqi could only rely on himself!

"Alright, saying more is pointless."

Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath, glanced at the time hanging on the wall.

Unconsciously, time had already reached one o’clock in the afternoon...

Only fifteen minutes remain until the trial begins!

With focused eyes, Zhao Jiaqi then stood up and slowly made his way to the courtroom.

The other judges saw him rise, glancing at the time subconsciously, then stood up and followed him.

As of now, the case didn’t seem to have a verdict in sight.

But...

Isn’t the point of a trial to turn the unclear into clear!?

"Creak!!!"

Zhao Jiaqi walked to the end and slowly pushed open a heavy door.

In the next second, a sea of heads in the audience turned to look at him, cameras all aiming at the crowd.

Unmoved internally, Zhao Jiaqi directly proceeded to the bench.

Looking at the prepared materials and documents, Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath and slowly leaned toward the microphone.

In the next moment, a voice echoed beside his ear.

"Plaintiff and defendant, both sides are now to enter the trial site for waiting; the trial is about to begin. Latecomers will be deemed absent and not allowed in the trial site afterward!"

As the voice fell.

In an instant.

Everyone in the audience suddenly became excited.

"Here it is! This case, after being discussed for more than a month, is finally entering the trial phase!"

"Will Han Chengguang attend?"

"He should, didn’t he say at the door himself that he would..."

"..."

Whispers rose among them.

In the front row of the audience, Zhang Tao and Li Ye exchanged a heavy gaze, sighed simultaneously, and watched their surroundings with solemn brows.

Meanwhile, Wang Hao beside them seemed to beam with satisfaction, constantly scanning the scene.

Amid everyone’s expectations...

"Creak~!"

The doors on both sides were slowly pushed open.

Han Chengguang, Chai Shiring, and others entered the trial site, and everyone’s eyes widened, looking up.

The plaintiff’s lineup was quite impressive.

Chai Shiring, an old lawyer who has long been famous, co-founded the Blue Shield Law Firm with others!

Sha Jin, holding a precedent case, senior top-notch lawyer at Blue Shield Law Firm, with a criminal case win rate as high as ninety percent!

The other assisting lawyers would be considered pillars at other firms!

Not to mention a Superstar Pharmaceutical Group chairman, Han Chengguang!

As for the defendants...

"Buzz~!"

Xu Liang led Feng Nan into the trial site.

Only two defendants.

One is Xu Liang, the other is Feng Nan, besides that, no one else!

Seeing this, everyone stifled.

"Does the defendant have no legal team? I remember Lawyer Xu had two assistants..."

"Hiss... can they make it, Chai Shiring and Sha Jin aren’t easy to deal with, let alone the defendants are on the disadvantage side, caught red-handed with solid evidence..."

"Other lawyers probably would’ve lost; but this one... I can’t tell..."

"It’s a pity, why take such a case and tarnish one’s record..."

"..."

A murmur of indistinguishable whispers sounded beside his ear.

Xu Liang ignored these voices of doubt, expressionless, leading Feng Nan to take their seats, then began searching for the necessary documents himself.

As for the plaintiff’s side...

Han Chengguang looked at Xu Liang at the defendant’s table and the nervous Feng Nan.

He then looked beside him, at the lawyer team whose custom suits alone were worth tens of thousands.

On Han Chengguang’s rough face, a slight smile suddenly appeared, and he withdrew his gaze, quietly waiting for the trial to begin.

On the bench.

Zhao Jiaqi glanced around at everyone, then looked at the time again.

As the time approached the last second...

"Boom!!!"

The sound of the gavel suddenly echoed throughout the trial site, its penetrating power seemed to make everyone’s eardrums numb.

What followed.

Was a sound even louder and more authoritative than the gavel.

"Silence!!!"

Zhao Jiaqi’s rebuke emerged, and the entire trial site gradually fell silent until no one spoke.

No sound at all, as if one could hear people’s breathing clearly.

At this moment.

Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath, steadied his breathing, then stood up, his heavy voice echoed beside everyone’s ears, expressionless, saying:

"This case was officially filed in the court on April 12."

"Defendant, Wu Fang, age 42, male, residing in Tianshan District, Qingshi City..."

"Kong Jian, age 61, male, occupation priest at Nanfu Road Church, Qingshi City..."

"The plaintiff claims that on March 30, the two smuggled a batch of counterfeit drugs named ’Imatinib’ through Hanhai City Port and subsequently sold them extensively in Qingshi City for profit."

"The number of victims is nearly a hundred, among them, an eight-year-old child, Li Ye’s son, died due to the fake drugs..."

"On today’s date, May 2nd, the first trial is conducted in accordance with law at Qingshi City Intermediate Court."

"Now, the announcement."

Zhao Jiaqi paused, glanced at everyone present to ensure no one objected, then continued:

"I hereby announce that this case..."

"Court is now in session!!!"

With these words,

everyone’s spirits lifted, and they watched the scene carefully, hoping to miss nothing.

Zhao Jiaqi’s sharp gaze immediately turned to the plaintiff’s side.

"Plaintiff, please introduce yourselves and state your demands against the defendant."

With these words,

Chai Shiring stood up and spoke:

"Honorable presiding judge, distinguished members of the hearing."

"I am Lawyer Chai Shiring from Blue Shield Law Firm, and this is Lawyer Sha Jin..."

As he spoke,

he paused, then gestured to Han Chengguang beside him.

"This is the plaintiff’s representative, Han Chengguang, Chairman of Superstar Pharmaceutical Group."

"In this trial, Blue Shield Law Firm will lawfully protect the plaintiff’s interests, and the client has entrusted the case entirely to me."

"And our demands..."

As he spoke,

Chai Shiring paused, then his tone became sharply authoritative as he opened:

"First, the defendants are guilty of violating Article 151 of the Criminal Law, ’Smuggling goods and articles prohibited by the State from import and export!’"

"According to evidence provided by the police and customs, the defendants Wu Fang and Kong Jian, along with Li Ye, smuggled drugs to evade customs supervision, smuggling goods and articles prohibited from export..."

"According to assessment by authoritative judicial bodies."

"The smuggled drugs contained impurities ten times the legal standard for authentic drugs, with some components unknown, and it caused gastric spasms in an eight-year-old boy, Li Guang, after consumption; thus, it should be prosecuted as counterfeit drugs."

"Therefore, according to Article 98 of the Pharmaceutical Administration Law."

"The smuggled drugs should be identified as counterfeit drugs, not generic!"

Counterfeit drugs...

Though generics and counterfeits seem similar, the penalties differ dramatically!

The courtroom exploded into an uproar.

Xu Liang at the defendant’s side frowned.

Even though he knew Chai Shiring was not a good person, he never expected such blatant lying!

Once they are identified as counterfeit drugs... then, with concrete evidence of Li Guang’s death, Wu Fang and Kong Jian face at least ten years!

Ten years later, who knows what state Feng Nan and others’ bodies will be in....

"Next, they’ll nail down the counterfeit drug accusation to escalate charges....."

Watching the uneasy Kong Jian and Wu Fang at the defendant’s席, Xu Liang murmured internally.

Sure enough,

the next second,

Chai Shiring spoke again from the plaintiff’s side:

"The defendants Wu Fang and Kong Jian, knowing full well that the drug they possessed was counterfeit with unknown ingredients and high side effects, still sold it."

"They are guilty under Article 141 of the Criminal Law, ’Manufacturing, selling, and providing counterfeit drugs crime.’"

"Furthermore, since the drug caused both eight-year-old Li Guang and gang member Li Ye’s deaths, the circumstances are severe, deserving a harsh sentence!"

Chai Shiring did not look at Xu Liang; his eyes were calm, and his statements were orderly and logical.

In a short time, he had spoken two major charges.

But it wasn’t over!

"According to our investigation, the defendant first committed smuggling on November 1, 2004!"

"To date, the smuggling span is six months, totaling three large-scale counterfeit drug smuggling cases!"

"Sixty-three boxes in total, equaling 756 bottles of counterfeit Imatinib!"

"Of which seven hundred bottles were sold, affecting a vast number of people!"

"We believe the defendants are guilty of ’Endangering public safety!’"

"...."

One law after another spewed from Chai Shiring’s mouth.

Everyone at the hearing felt chills hearing this.

Until the end...

"Simultaneously, the defendants harmed the interests of our client, Superstar Pharmaceutical Group, causing substantial losses by illegitimate means."

"Our demand is for the defendant to be held criminally accountable while compensating our client!"

With these words,

Chai Shiring set down his materials, a smile on his face as he stared directly at Xu Liang, eyes filled with amusement.

Intertwining criminal charges with civil claims.

Countless laws laid out, and the opposing party just one man, how could he have time to refute them all!?

Even if Chai Shiring did nothing, Xu Liang wouldn’t have the energy to counter!

Thinking this,

Chai Shiring sneered inwardly, recalling Qi Tao’s decisive contract signing with Xu Liang, his eyes revealing a shadow.

’No team... and still wants to snatch food from the tiger’s mouth!?’

The value from the Qi Tao case is critical, but it is merely potential.

Until the potential is realized.....

it’s better to stay low-key!

"Honorable presiding judge, our demands are concluded."

Chai Shiring turned his gaze to Zhao Jiaqi at the bench and slowly spoke.

Presiding Judge Zhao Jiaqi felt a headache.

Given Chai Shiring’s statements, if aggravated circumstances were applied for punishment...

The death penalty is entirely possible!

But sentencing Wu Fang and Kong Jian to death?

How could that be!?

If convicted... though public opinion leans towards Chai Shiring’s side, there are always clear-minded people.

Currently, though public opinion is severe, it only stems from ten percent of the population causing ninety percent of the noise!

Ninety percent of the people are still hidden below the surface...

"Defendant."

Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath, turning his gaze to the defendant’s席.

"Defendant, what are your demands?"

At the defendant’s席.

Xu Liang paused, pulling out prepared materials, then stood and spoke:

"Honorable presiding judge, distinguished members of the hearing."

"We assert that the defendants, Wu Fang and Kong Jian..."

"are not guilty!"

Xu Liang suddenly declared.

This case is extreme, and while harsh sentences could mean death, based on Wu Fang and Kong Jian’s circumstances... as long as it meets the emergency avoidance criteria, they could truly be innocent!

So...

"I am defending the defendants as not guilty!"