Many people were defrauded of just a hundred or two hundred yuan, and not only is it difficult to provide evidence, many of the defrauded migrant workers have already left Dongfang City and cannot be contacted.
Therefore, in the end, it was discovered that the amount of money returned in compensation amounted to less than thirty percent of the illegal earnings.
However, the indictment from the prosecutor's office left him in complete despair.
It suggested a sentence of six years of fixed-term imprisonment and a fine of eight million yuan!
Is that a lot of money? It's a considerable sum, but high fines are common for the crime of illegal business operations.
According to judicial interpretation, in particularly serious cases of illegal business operations, the penalty is a fixed-term imprisonment of five years or more and a fine of at least double and up to five times the illegal income, or confiscation of property.
If truly implemented according to the regulations, the amount of the fine would be even more.
However, the Supreme Court also has interpretations regarding property-related punishments, and the specific amount should be determined based on the financial situation of the criminal.
There should be as much fine as there is money, otherwise imposing an astronomical fine that can't be paid, then the sentence is pointless.
In the Guanning District detention center, Bai Chenlin said to the lawyer in front of him, "I absolutely do not accept this. Eight million? If I pay all that money, how will I manage afterward?"
The lawyer earnestly tried to persuade him, "If you don't accept now, you might face a heavier sentence. Besides, they won't take all of it; they will definitely leave enough for your wife and children to live on."
"No, I just won't agree!"
After much persuasion, Bai Chenlin began to suspect the lawyer was in cahoots with the procuratorate, trying to coax him into admitting guilt and accepting the punishment.
He would admit his guilt, but he refused to accept the fine, feeling he shouldn't have to bear such a heavy financial penalty.
So, after a time, the Guanning District Court passed sentence.
"Defendant Bai Chenlin, convicted of the crime of illegal business operations, is here by sentenced to seven years of fixed-term imprisonment and a fine of eight million yuan!"
Hearing the verdict, Bai Chenlin's eyes rolled back. He had even pleaded with the judge during the final statement phase, saying he had already admitted his guilt.
Yet, admitting guilt and accepting the punishment go hand in hand. If you don't accept the punishment, it indicates that you haven't fully realized the extent of your problems, so the sentencing must revert to normal.
However, as the verdict for another intermediary was announced, Bai Chenlin felt a glimmer of hope again.
That man was accused of illegal business operations, fraud, and the crime of provoking trouble, given a combined punishment for multiple offenses, and sentenced to ten years of fixed-term imprisonment with all his property confiscated...
Mainly because every time migrant workers came to ask for their wages, he would gather a bunch of employees to intimidate people, and sometimes he would even resort to violence, hence he was directly charged with the crime of provoking trouble.
Seeing this verdict, Bai Chenlin suddenly felt that being fined eight million wasn't so bad after all, as at least a small amount was left over.
That man, on the other hand, lost everything – the proceeds of his crime and his original capital, all confiscated...
As time passed day by day, more intermediaries were sentenced, mainly because the public security organs persistently released one report after another, making other intermediaries as tame as quails.
At least they would certainly be well-behaved for a while.
There might be relapses in the future; after all, as long as the profit is there, such people can never be completely eradicated.
But Old Tang had already made a plan – to visit Dongfang City every few years to check on the intermediary situation. If they were up and running again, he would simply repeat the process.
After all, he had nothing better to do and triggering a case would be best.
However, there were so many people, and some even lodged appeals, so he would have to wait for this task.
Now with some free time, Old Tang searched everywhere for cases to make money and indeed found one!
And the defendant was his favorite target, a bank! ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NovєlFіre.net
No worries about the absence of money upon execution, no need for preliminary property preservation, no need to consider other factors, just win the lawsuit, and that's it - even the thought was delightful.
Banks truly are the perfect defendants!
"Tang, Lawyer Tang, can I really get my money back with my situation? The people at the bank said, 'There are risks in financial management, and investment should be cautious.'" A madam from Yuefu Residential Complex asked with doubt.
"Whether you can get the money back depends on the specific situation. However, I am willing to take on the case on a contingency basis. What do you think, Madam Wu?"