National Forensic Doctor
Chapter 368 - 368 335 Cleanup

368: Chapter 335 Cleanup 368: Chapter 335 Cleanup “So we’re looking at 4 death penalties, 4 life imprisonments, over a dozen with more than ten years—I estimate about fifteen or sixteen—plus several others over five years, and some three-year sentences…” Prosecutor Liu counted through the names on the list, as gleeful as if he were ticking off convicted criminals, his mood clearly buoyant.

Not only was he calculating the sentences of the eighteen active parking lot security guards, but he also included those who retired and the riffraff hanging around these guards.

The total number of people involved was significant, keeping the Criminal Police Detachment busy for days.

It would take months for the likes of the Ningtai County Criminal Police Detachment to handle just these cases, foregoing all other matters if it weren’t for the scale of the Criminal Police Brigade.

Prosecutor Liu didn’t need anyone to echo him, cheerfully continuing, “I’ve never fought such an exhilarating battle.

As for these three-year cases, I think we can file those later.

Let’s focus on the death penalty cases first.

Once those are wrapped up, we can gather additional evidence and maybe push those three-year sentences to ten.”

Yu Wenshu couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this, “Then those with five-year sentences are getting off easy.”

“We’ll have to see if we have time later.

I’ll have a good talk with them.

If they are willing to plead guilty and accept their punishment, five to seven years should suffice.

Otherwise, we’ll put them in the queue for supplemental investigations.

Captain Jiang, what do you think?” Prosecutor Liu now had a great deal of respect for Jiang Yuan, seeing him as a true partner in their work.

“I’ll make time whenever necessary.

Trust me for any supplementary investigations you need,” Jiang Yuan replied, “I always prefer to deliver a solid case.”

“That’s a good habit,” Prosecutor Liu clapped his hands in agreement.

“I share the same sentiment.

Better to thoroughly digest one case than to bite off more than we can chew.”

Jiang Yuan nodded, saying, “I believe a person should be held accountable for his actions.

If, for any reason on our part, he is given a lenient sentence, he will only become more brazen once released from prison, possibly even emboldened by his luck.

So, when a case holds water, there’s no need for leniency.

The punishment should be harsh if it needs to be, without being swayed by extraneous factors.”

Prosecutor Liu laughed heartily, “That’s a good mindset.

However, the families of the criminals might think differently.”

Jiang Yuan replied, “The families of the criminals, if they truly care for them and have had an influence over them, then they must have made mistakes somewhere.

That includes their understanding of the sentence—they are mistaken as well.”

“Your logic is very sound,” Prosecutor Liu agreed wholeheartedly.

Having dealt with criminal cases for so long, any sympathy for criminals had long been eroded by the tragic circumstances of the victims.

If the possibility of miscarriage of justice exists in singular murder cases, for the likes of Jianyuan Pharmaceutical’s parking lot security, who formed a criminal gang, there is absolutely no reason for forgiveness.

Some might argue that someone had simply strayed onto the wrong path, acted recklessly in their youth, got involved in fights, beat up people, robbed others, or harassed men or women—how could such actions merit ten years in jail, or even the death penalty?

But in the eyes of Prosecutor Liu and Jiang Yuan, it was sufficient.

Committing crimes unconsciously can happen once or twice, but not three or four times.

Moreover, only those acts of crime that are supported by concrete evidence and a complete chain of evidence are subject to legal punishment.

A petty thief who survives through theft and, in the end, is convicted of stealing tens of thousands and complains about his multi-year sentence is utterly absurd.

If we talk about morals without regard to the law, then we should count all the crimes he committed that lacked evidence, for which even a life sentence would not be excessive.

The security guards of Jianyuan’s parking lot, each and every one of them, were bullies who fought classmates in school, harassed vendors in the streets, teased women when drunk, assaulted any man who resisted, indulged in road rage while driving, and slapped and cursed at anyone in disputes.

Their specific crimes merely varied by personal preference and capability—ranging from theft, robbery, lewd acts, rape, to assault.

Regarding their character and humanity—executing them all might seem cruel, but it would be no injustice.

Allowing the majority of them to live is not because they don’t deserve death, but rather because of civilization’s self-imposed demands and constraints.

The more criminals are put to death, the happier everyone will be, including the criminals’ families.

Prosecutor Liu now looked at Jiang Yuan with fervent enthusiasm.

If it weren’t for the fact that too much power had been stripped away from the prosecutor’s office, he would have thought about pulling Jiang Yuan over.

Any department involved in investigations would favor a skilled detective like Jiang Yuan.

Yu Wenshu coughed twice, “So, Jiang Yuan, weren’t you supposed to interrogate Zhang Xiang?”

“Oh…

I’ll sit in on it.

After lunch, once the detention center’s mealtime is over.” The main interrogation had already concluded, but Zhang Xiang had yet to give a clear account of the tire-slashing incident.

Jiang Yuan planned to interrogate Zhang Xiang again with Meng Chengbiao.

Giving priority to Jiang Yuan’s security, Yu Wenshu nodded seriously, “We must clarify everything that needs to be interrogated.

Call me if you need help.”

Jiang Yuan nodded in agreement and went back to his work.

With so many people and so many cases, most of which were exposed by each other’s testimonies—or rather, by snitching on one another—a lot of it required Jiang Yuan to verify and find evidence.

Besides, Jiang Yuan still had his own cases to find.

Since they were clearing up old cases anyway, sorting out the cases related to these several dozen individuals all at once yielded more than if he had worked through them methodically—one could say they were a treasure trove of security guards.

Jiang Yuan also needed to sort out as many old cases as possible from them, especially the four security guards expected to face the death penalty.

He had to thoroughly understand the crimes they had committed.

Otherwise, by the time we get back to these cases, the suspects would all have been injected to death.

Not only would that be a waste of time, but we might also encounter cases that can’t be broken.

Afternoon.

Meng Chengbiao prepared the interrogation warrant and headed to the detention center with Jiang Yuan to interrogate Zhang Xiang.

Unlike in their own case handling center at the police station, inmates extracted from the detention center were directly taken to the interrogation room, securely locked in the interrogation chairs, facing the police across the void.

The interrogation posture here was even more formal.

Meng Chengbiao followed procedure, with the main focus being evidence collection.

Zhang Xiang politely answered questions for a while but suddenly got annoyed and said, “If you’re going to convict me, then convict me.

Are you just asking me?

Don’t you know anything, expecting me to confess everything on my own?”

“If you don’t talk, we’ll investigate.

But this attitude of yours will lead to a heavier sentence,” Meng Chengbiao said sternly.

Zhang Xiang curled his lips: “I already have two lives on my hands.

How are you planning to increase my sentence?

Are you going to make me die twice?”

Jiang Yuan frowned upon hearing this.

Logically speaking, it was indeed so.

Committing arson and murder, causing the death of two people, basically meant a death sentence was guaranteed.

Also, the more cases Zhang Xiang confessed to, the less chance he had to survive.

Under such circumstances, how could the interrogation continue?

Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but look at Meng Chengbiao.

Meng Chengbiao’s aging face looked greasy under the light, as if he hadn’t washed it in the morning.

Hearing Zhang Xiang’s words, he showed no reaction and directly asked, “What are your demands?”

Zhang Xiang didn’t beat around the bush and said, “I want to play chess on the weekend.”

Meng Chengbiao looked towards the detention center officer beside him.

The latter explained, “We usually organize movie screenings or reading novels on weekends.

Only those with full assessment points and good behavior are allowed to go to the chess room.”

“Add a point for him?” Meng Chengbiao gave a smile and then asked, “Could you see if it can be arranged?”

“Alright then, since Ningtai Jiang Yuan is here, I’ll mention it to his supervisor,” the officer said with a friendly smile after glancing at Jiang Yuan.

A policeman skilled enough to crack cases as easily as drinking water was someone everybody was willing to accommodate from any perspective.

Meng Chengbiao immediately expressed his gratitude, then turned his head and said to Zhang Xiang sternly, “You’ve heard our conversation.

You want to play chess on the weekend, that can be arranged.

Now, answer me one question.”

Zhang Xiang said, “Go ahead.”

Meng Chengbiao asked, “Who told you to puncture the tire?”

Zhang Xiang fell silent.

Meng Chengbiao frowned and shouted loudly, “Zhang Xiang!”

“I can’t say that,” Zhang Xiang shook his head.

“Is it the upper management of Jianyuan?” Meng Chengbiao pressed on, staring into Zhang Xiang’s eyes.

Zhang Xiang simply closed his eyes.

Meng Chengbiao tried different methods, asking repeatedly, but to no avail.

Clearly, the temptation of playing chess on the weekend was not equivalent to the question.

Meng Chengbiao looked at Jiang Yuan again.

“Let’s just go back,” Jiang Yuan said, too lazy to ask further.

If all else failed, they would just have to wait until they caught the executives of Jianyuan Pharmaceutical before continuing the questioning.