All five received sentences of over fifteen years.
This news would stir up a commotion within a few days. The reputation of Sanhe Hospital would suffer a significant blow. It might even be ordered to shut down.
"This is just an estimated sentence. Iâll need to understand the specific situation after discussing with the parties involved to be certain," Zhang Wei said, looking at the sullen Yu Gao and continuing, "Theyâre at the prosecutorâs office now, right?"
Yu Gao nodded.
These cases were indeed handled by the prosecutorâs office. Inside the prosecutorâs office, there were also detention facilities. They could be used to investigate and interrogate suspects.
...
ăThree days later.ă
ăJin City.ă
ăThe nursing home.ă
During working hours, Qin Mu received another notification from the prosecutorâs office. It said that the case had made a breakthrough. The prosecution would be initiated in five days with a public trial.
Upon learning this news, the nursing home once again buzzed with excitement.
"Finally, we have a case to follow? Too bad we still have to wait five days."
"Xiao Qinâs efforts have finally paid off. Those who dared tamper with the medical industry should have seen this coming!"
"Old Su, see? Xiao Qinâs impact isnât just talk."
"By the way, can Old Suâs money be recovered?"
"..."
The crowd cheered jubilantly.
Su Yongnian stood among them, looking somewhat dazed. As a new resident of the nursing home, he had heard too many legends about Qin Mu recently. All sorts of spectacular cases abounded. He heard that a middle-aged couple had been sentenced by Qin Mu to twenty years.
And this time, this hospital and pharmacy, against which he had felt helpless, seemed to have truly met their retribution due to Qin Muâs intervention. The pharmacy closed, the hospital ceased operations!
He stared blankly at Qin Mu. His expression was complex, a mix of astonishment, reverence, and excitement.
Having someone who understands the law by your side really does make things much more convenient.
The effectiveness of defending oneâs rights is also so much better compared to those of us who lack legal knowledge.
"Money or no money doesnât matter, as long as... these harmful doctors receive the punishment they deserve," he said, swallowing hard, addressing Zhang Qingyuan and the others.
As things had developed to this point, the 1,200 yuan he had spent on treating his cold was no longer important to him.
"However, I have to tell everyone, this trial... involves a special industry affecting peopleâs livelihoods and is unlikely to be conducted openly," Qin Mu said to Zhang Qingyuan and the others, throwing cold water on their expectations.
Similar to the bank cases, although this case involved a private hospital, some details were not suitable for a public trial. Therefore, it would not be open to the public.
"What? No spectacle to watch again? I was planning to go early to get a good seat five days from now."
"Canât even follow it online? Seems like I got excited for nothing."
"Will the sentencing results be made public at least?"
"Not being able to see the trial feels a bit disappointing."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Qingyuan and the rest felt rather deflated. As they had grown older, they delighted in witnessing scenes where good and evil received their due. The benevolent and virtuous were rewarded and treated well. The wicked and the criminal were severely punished and imprisoned. In their simple view, the law was there to punish evil and promote good. In real life, good people often lived in poverty while the wicked roamed free. This was why the law served as a standard to uphold justice and restore a clear and just world.
"The verdict will definitely be publicized. How long their sentences are... truly depends on the evidence the prosecution has and the skill of the defense attorney," Qin Mu reassured everyone.
While this trial would not be public, the legal proceedings would be the same. If all went as expected, there would be five defendants. They were Liu Qiao, the owner of the pharmacy; Han Dongting, the respiratory physician; and four other hospital officials. Their charges would likely be crimes related to their positions, such as offering or accepting bribes. Such crimes were mainly sentenced according to the amount of money involved. The greater the amount, the heavier the sentence. This was undeniable.
The only factor that could influence the sentence was the defense attorneyâs ability to argue for mitigation based on genuine remorse, confession and willingness to accept punishment, and proactive restitution of illicit gains. If they cooperated and returned all illicit gains, they might have several years taken off their sentences. If they did not cooperate, they would be sentenced based on their refusal to cooperate and plead guilty.
Moreover, due to the large sums involved, besides imprisonment, these individuals might also face confiscation of all personal property. Generally speaking, ordinary criminal acts did not result in the confiscation of all property. Only crimes such as threatening national security, producing or selling counterfeit or substandard goods, disrupting financial order, financial fraud, tax evasion, corruption, accepting bribes, and kidnapping would result in the confiscation of all property. Without a doubt, the actions of the pharmacy owner, Han Dongting, and the others fell under one of these categories of crimes, and the sums involved were particularly large.
Of course, the confiscation of all property referred only to the personal assets of the criminals themselves. If the assets of their relatives were legally obtained, they would not be confiscated.
...
ăFive days later.ă
ăIn the nursing home.ă
ăThe legal consultantâs office.ă
Zhang Qingyuan, Li Weiguo, Song Tiancheng, Su Yongnian, and others all gathered around Wang Dachuiâs door, anxiously awaiting the results.
"Dachui, why isnât the trial over yet? Is your computer broken? The verdict still hasnât been updated?"
"If your computer isnât working, letâs go see the results in the Deputy Directorâs office."
"Itâs already five in the afternoon. Isnât this trial taking a bit too long?"