Chapter 14: This Was a Soul-Piercing Cross-Examination!
Earlier, Wang Wu had watched the live broadcast of the trial together with Xu Zhiqiang in the legal affairs office and had been furious, yet after returning to the president's office he still could not resist secretly continuing to watch the live broadcast.
This broadcast concerned not only the question of whether they could win the case, but also the reputation of Nandu Bank.
Nandu Bank was merely a local bank.
If its reputation were damaged, the resulting losses to the bank would be incalculable.
After watching the entire live broadcast of the trial, Wang Wu's emotional state could only be described as a precipitous decline.
No, there was only decline, an unending decline, so much decline that he had gone numb, without any fluctuation at all.
At the moment the judgment was announced, Wang Wu completely lost his composure and came to the legal affairs office to question Xu Zhiqiang, the director of the legal department.
Xu Zhiqiang felt aggrieved, who could have anticipated that an inexperienced lawyer focused on divorce consultation would be so formidable in criminal litigation?
He had dominated the courtroom.
Especially when he also encountered a senior presiding judge such as Yu Caixia.
The final judgment was reasoned and well grounded, leaving no room at all for appeal.
"President Wang, this time it was indeed an error on the part of our bank's legal department, but although we failed, we did not fail entirely, the result of the adverse judgment is merely a simple apology."
"As long as we achieve victory in public opinion, then in the end our Nandu Bank will still have won."
Wang Wu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Public opinion, what public opinion!"
"Our bank has already been ordered to apologize and you are still talking about public opinion, do you take me for a fool?"
"How can there still be public opinion victory after losing the case?"
Xu Zhiqiang looked troubled, he had only spoken casually and naturally had no idea how to achieve victory in public opinion, and what he had just said had been entirely for the purpose of stabilizing Wang Wu.
Wang Wu saw through him and immediately waved his hand. "I am giving you a deadline to think of a proper solution. If because of this trial our bank's reputation and public standing suffer losses, then you, as director of the legal department, should prepare to leave."
"President Wang…"
Xu Zhiqiang still wanted to say something, but Wang Wu gave him no opportunity at all and stormed out of the legal affairs office in anger.
Xu Zhiqiang's face darkened.
Damn it!
Everything had originally been prepared to perfection, who could have expected that halfway through there would appear a marriage consultation lawyer who was so outstanding at criminal litigation?
It was infuriating.
At the trial scene.
After the court was declared adjourned, Yu Caixia and the other two judicial officers left the courtroom.
Since Wang Li had not been declared innocent on the spot and was still suspected of unjust enrichment and transfer of stolen funds, although the sentence was suspended, the necessary procedures still had to be followed, and he was taken away by the bailiff.
Li Xuezhen looked at Su Bai with a face full of excitement.
"Lawyer Su, we won this lawsuit, we won!"
"Wang Li was sentenced, but only for a few short months and it is still a suspended sentence!"
"Compared with the previous twenty-year fixed term imprisonment in the first and second instance, this courtroom litigation can be considered a great victory for us, Lawyer Su!"
Li Xuezhen rose slightly onto her toes and bounced with excitement, her body trembling.
Su Bai glanced at the unusually excited Li Xuezhen, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Had he not already said that they would definitely win this lawsuit?
Yu Caixia's judgment had long been within his expectations.
If it had been an ordinary lawyer, even if the sentence could not have been reduced to this extent, the second instance would still not have upheld the original first instance judgment.
It was merely that the lawyer Wang Zizhong had previously engaged had been too incompetent.
Finding a silver-tongued lawyer for the second instance was indeed impressive.
In fact, there were still several critical issues in this lawsuit that had not been raised.
However, the crucial point of this lawsuit was whether Wang Li constituted the crime of robbery, and this was the most essential point.
As long as that point was negated, then the accusations by Nandu Bank and the public prosecution would be completely dissolved.
There was also the matter of the presiding judge's attitude.
Wang Li's case was highly unusual, since both the first and second instance had imposed twenty years of fixed term imprisonment, and at the final instance the previous judgments would often be taken into consideration.
Fortunately, Yu Caixia was a senior presiding judge who firmly upheld the fairness of the law.
Therefore, such a result was not unexpected.
"All right, do not be so excited, quickly organize the materials, there are still some related matters that need to be handled next, and there is still more work to do."
"Yes, Lawyer Su."
Li Xuezhen suppressed her excitement, obediently finished organizing the materials, and followed behind Su Bai, preparing to leave the courtroom.
On the other side, Li Mo stared fixedly at Su Bai, and it was unclear whether the expression in his eyes reflected despondency or bitter jealousy.
In any case, it was complex.
As they passed by, Li Xuezhen muttered softly.
"Lawyer Su, that Lawyer Li from Nandu Bank's legal department seems rather dissatisfied with you…"
Su Bai smiled slightly. "Perhaps he has done too many eye exercises, we should simply mind our own business and keep walking."
"All right, Lawyer Su, that cold joke is rather amusing."
"Then smile more."
"All right, Lawyer Su, hehe."
Li Xuezhen silently followed behind Su Bai.
Li Mo nearly coughed up blood from anger when he heard this exchange.
Setting aside the fact that he had lost the case, when the two of you passed by me, could you not at least lower your voices?
At such close distance, and with voices that loud, did you think I could not hear?
There was no help for it, a lost case was a lost case, and no matter how angry he became during the hearing it was useless, the result of the final instance had already been issued.
After organizing the trial materials, Li Mo followed behind Su Bai and walked out of the court.
Outside the court, the reporters could no longer wait to begin interviews, and some were even calling immediately to notify their editorial teams and prepare headlines.
'Shocking, a major reversal in the Wang Li case, and Nandu Bank actually…'
'The triumphant Nandu Bank has met its own downfall.'
'Justice has finally been vindicated, and Nandu Bank has received the judgment of justice.'
And so forth, these sensational headlines could be made as shocking as possible.
When Su Bai walked out of the court, many media outlets swarmed toward him, carrying cameras and thrusting microphones in front of him.
"Lawyer Su, how do you view your courtroom litigation arguments this time, and how did you come up with the argument that the bank should prove that the bank's money belongs to the bank?"
"Lawyer Su, we understand that your law firm is merely a marriage consultation firm, so why did you perform so brilliantly in this criminal litigation?"
"Lawyer Su, Lawyer Su…"
Was this not an excellent opportunity to advertise the law firm?
Faced with reporters and media carrying cameras and pressing him with questions, Su Bai briefly adjusted his suit.
"Although our law firm is a marriage consultation firm, our lawyers are proficient in criminal, civil, and economic dispute matters, and we are involved in all kinds of legal practice, which is why we were able to win this lawsuit."
"If anyone needs legal representation, you may give priority consideration to our Baijun law Firm."
Su Bai revealed two white teeth, appearing exceptionally sincere.
After finishing the advertisement, he hurriedly left the scene together with Li Xuezhen.
At the scene, only the personnel of Nandu Bank remained.
At that moment, some members of the media seemed to discover the sensitivity of a new angle for news, and carrying cameras they came directly to Li Mo.
"Lawyer Li, how do you view the fact that you were full of confidence before the hearing, yet in the end lost to a little-known law firm?"
"When you previously told us that the probability of Nandu Bank winning was such that there was no need for concern, did you in fact already believe internally that Nandu Bank was certain to lose?"
"Lawyer Li, may I ask… do you perhaps have any conflict of interest with the plaintiff's lawyer?"
Li Mo: ?????
'Are you deliberately stabbing people straight in the heart?'
'Are you trying to kill by attacking the soul?'
'What exactly do you mean by that?'
'Are you suspecting that I was an undercover agent?'