Too Bad I Take Things Seriously-Chapter 518 - 212: Shock in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Could it be Qin Mu’s Doing Again?_3
"Is such sophistry even acceptable? A professional lawyer wouldn’t propose such a defense strategy, would they?"
"They hired Zhang Wei, right? I’ve heard Zhang Wei is very capable; Xiao Qin had many dealings with him before."
"Labeling giving money to someone as ’paving the way for sales’?"
"If you ask me, that pharmacy owner is the most despicable of all!"
Zhang Qingyuan and the others were equally furious. Liu Qiao’s remarks were the epitome of shamelessness. If it hadn’t been for him, the hospital wouldn’t have deliberately prescribed expensive medications to patients, and his pharmacy’s sales wouldn’t have been so high. Such a merchant... for the sake of profit, he had lost all basic humanity.
"During the evidence presentation and cross-examination stages, the public prosecutor successively produced the ’Criminal Facts Identification Opinions,’ ’Confession and Sentencing Agreements,’ ’Pharmacy Sales Records,’ and ’Medical Equipment Sales Detail Records’ for the six accused."
「In the office.」
Wang Dachui focused on the computer and continued to read aloud, "However, the defense lawyers for the accused did not challenge these pieces of evidence. Han Dongting and the other five defendants all chose to plead guilty."
"Only Liu Qiao firmly maintained that the pharmacy’s high sales were due to his outstanding sales capabilities and excellent operations."
"In response, the public prosecutor presented Han Dongting’s recorded confession, in which Han Dongting revealed the criminal act of Liu Qiao bribing him with cash every month..."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone’s breathing quickened. Undoubtedly, the trial had started to get interesting even before the open debate segment.
According to the trial proceedings publicly disclosed on the judicial documents website, Han Dongting and the other four defendants seemed to have given up the struggle. Only Liu Qiao had gone to the other extreme, constantly trying to exonerate himself. But the prosecutor’s presentation of Han Dongting’s confession completely caught Liu Qiao off guard—a deadly counterattack. Throughout this process, Zhang Wei remained silent and did not participate in Liu Qiao’s defense.
「Outside the office.」
Qin Mu shook his head upon hearing this part. The information available after the fact indicated that Liu Qiao’s will to survive was extremely strong. In a scenario where all his co-defendants had "surrendered and given up," he still firmly believed, "Hold steady, and we can win." But he was immediately shut down by the public prosecutor.
He must have been banking on a stroke of luck, believing that Han Dongting’s act of prescribing expensive medications wasn’t criminal. As long as the bribery wasn’t discovered, he wouldn’t be convicted of it. Yet, Han Dongting had inexplicably confessed, admitting everything.
With Han Dongting’s confession and the provided evidence, whether Liu Qiao confessed or not had little impact. The chain of evidence was complete in other aspects; a conviction could be secured even without Liu Qiao’s admission.
"During the open debate segment of the trial, the defense lawyers for the accused focused on mitigation, proposing four points for reducing the sentences of Han Dongting and the other five."
「In the office.」
Wang Dachui looked at the judicial document on the computer and continued, "First, the five actively confessed and fully cooperated throughout the process, displaying good attitudes and reducing the investigative difficulty for judicial personnel."
"Second, they actively returned the ill-gotten gains, voluntarily surrendering all illegally obtained assets—an action worthy of commendation."
"Third..."
During this segment, Zhang Wei continued to leverage his strengths, arguing forcefully and pleading with the collegial panel to consider imposing lighter sentences. Meanwhile, Liu Qiao continued his "freestyling," advocating his "sales channel activities" and even treating Han Dongting as his business partner, portraying the bribery money as profit-sharing dividends. Unfortunately, even with his silver tongue, he was unable to reverse his losing position.
The public prosecutor presented relevant legal provisions related to bribery, offering a piercing rebuttal to his "sales channel activities."
"In the final statement segment, Han Dongting and the other four actively confessed their guilt, requesting leniency from the court, while Liu Qiao continued to insist on his innocence."
Wang Dachui scrolled through the document on the computer as he read, "Finally, after a half-hour adjournment, the collegial panel delivered its judgment:
According to Article 385 of the Criminal Law, Han Dongting was convicted of accepting bribes and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, with confiscation of all property.
According to Article 382 of the Criminal Law, Zhang Wen Yuan was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to 15 years and 6 months of imprisonment, with confiscation of all property.
According to Criminal Law...
...
According to Articles 389 and 191 of the Criminal Law, Liu Qiao was convicted of offering bribes and money laundering. The sentences for both crimes were to be served concurrently, totaling 14 years and 6 months of imprisonment, with confiscation of all property."
At the end of the judicial document, the verdicts for the six individuals were stated. Han Dongting and the other four, due to offenses committed in an official capacity, were all sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of over 15 years. Compared to the public prosecutor’s sentencing recommendations, they all received somewhat reduced sentences. Only Liu Qiao, because of his excessively strong will to survive, stubbornly earned himself an additional year and a half on his sentence.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingyuan and the others looked gratified.
"This judgment is good, very satisfying. Almost all of them got around fifteen years."
"Serves them right! This is what they call having the means to make money but not the life to spend it!"
"Liu Qiao was so active; it’s a pity we couldn’t see his courtroom performance."
"I have a question: did Zhang Wei give up on Liu Qiao?"
Including Su Yongnian, everyone couldn’t help but make sarcastic remarks, intensely focused on the "most valuable player" performance of Liu Qiao. His relentless resistance made them itch with curiosity, wishing they could have witnessed it firsthand in the courtroom.
"AHEM. AHEM. The verdict document states that Liu Qiao was dissatisfied with the judgment and decided to appeal on the spot..."
