Tokyo Barrister: Start the law firm bankruptcy

Chapter 945 Sudden Rise
Takada and Akie were both stunned.

There are even lawyers who are asking the prosecutor's office what to do?!

However, the judge from the mountain town on the stage said, "The prosecutor's office requests that the defendant's lawyer's demands be recorded, and that the restraints on the defendant be verified after the court session to determine whether there was any illegality and take appropriate measures."

The presiding judge reaffirmed Kitahara's request.

The prosecutors present were thoroughly humiliated.

Akie couldn't hold back and wanted to argue again, but Takada stopped her.

Prosecutor Takada said in a deep voice, "Akiho, there's no need to act impulsively. The other side's focus on the restraints on the defendant is just a tactic. Whether or not the restraints are used has absolutely nothing to do with Aso's conviction and sentencing. The other side is just trying to make a mountain out of a molehill to bluff their way out."

There's no need to get entangled with the other party too much.

"Since they've come this far, we don't need to hold back." Takada sneered.

At that moment, the prosecutor's assistant present immediately sealed Aso's shackles.

After a brief period of busy activity—

The gavel struck.

"The trial of Satoshi Aso for illegal fundraising fraud is now in session!" Judge Yamashiro announced.

The trial for this nationwide financial fraud has finally begun.

"Please have the prosecutor read the indictment," Judge Shancheng instructed.

Qiu Hui immediately stood up.

This legal elite from Hitotsubashi University exudes a sharp and charismatic aura in every gesture.

"The defendant, Soichi Aso, was arrested on May 21, 1918, on suspicion of fundraising fraud. The investigation into this case has now been completed. On June 23, 1918, this office reviewed and prosecuted the case."

"This court, through its investigation, has ascertained that: the defendant, Aso, is the chairman of Shanhu Capital. The main shareholder and actual controller of Shanhu Capital is the defendant, Aso. Starting in February of this year, the defendant, Aso, instructed the staff of Shanhu Capital to begin promoting an investment model called 'Ant Buyback'."

The specific details of this model are as follows.

“Investors purchase Ant Group from Mountain Lake Capital. After the Ant Group has reproduced, which takes about two to three months, Mountain Lake Capital promises to repurchase the Ant Group from investors at a premium of 25% to 50%.”

"Shanhu Capital has publicly promoted Ant Financial's investment and buyback model on numerous occasions. Many citizens believed its false advertising, invested in Ant Financial, and waited for Shanhu Capital to repurchase their investments."

"The Tokyo Regional Financial Services Bureau issued a rectification order against Mountain Lake Capital's Ant Group acquisition model, believing it to be suspected of illegal fundraising. Although Mountain Lake Capital subsequently made rectifications, it did not substantially change its business model."

"In April of this year, Shanhu Capital began to experience difficulties in making payments. In May, widespread reports began to circulate online that Shanhu Capital was unable to fulfill its repurchase commitments to Ant Group, and a large number of victims went to the local police station to report the incidents."

"It has now been determined that a total of 329,238 investors purchased Ant Group shares from Shanhu Capital. The outstanding amount is as high as 1281 billion yen. For details regarding the outstanding amount owed to the victims, please refer to the audit report issued by the judicial appraisal institution."

Qiu Hui's voice was strong and clear.

Unraveling the complexities of a fundraising case—

It is presented to the public in a simple and easy-to-understand form.

Qiu Hui's voice continued:

"According to the law, illegal fundraising refers to fundraising activities that are illegal, public, enticing, and social in nature. Aso's Shanhu Capital did not obtain a financial license to accept public deposits, thus it is illegal. The defendant publicly promoted the Ant Group repurchase model on multiple occasions, thus it is public. Its promise to repurchase Ant Group at a high price constitutes an enticement of principal and interest repayment within a certain period. The defendant's promotion, which solicited funds from the general public, is social in nature."

"Therefore, Aso's actions constitute illegal fundraising."

"Further investigation by this office has revealed that Aso fabricated facts and concealed the truth while carrying out the aforementioned illegal fundraising activities. After obtaining a large amount of funds, the defendant squandered them and was extremely irresponsible in the use of the funds. This resulted in serious losses for the companies involved, making it impossible for them to repay investors."

"Therefore, the defendant used fraudulent methods with the intent of illegal possession."

"Committed the crime of fundraising fraud."

"Taking into account the circumstances of the defendant's crime, the wide range of victims involved, and the large amount of money involved, this office recommends that the defendant, Soichi Aso, be sentenced to life imprisonment in accordance with the law, and be ordered to compensate investors for their losses of 1281 billion yen."

Qiu Hui's arguments are logically connected.

The discussion will proceed from the elements of a criminal act.

The indictment is brief, with a clear main thread. It is convincing.

Add to that Qiu Hui's serious tone.

At this moment, it's as if divine punishment has descended, and the criminals are to be punished in a way that pleases everyone.

Those present were shocked when they heard the proposed sentence of life imprisonment. Rumors had circulated that the prosecutor's office had requested life imprisonment, and now it seemed to be true.

In addition, there is a compensation liability of up to hundreds of billions of yen.

Aso, this financial genius, is completely finished.

The mountain city judge looked up and asked:

"Defendant Aso, do you plead guilty?"

"I plead guilty," Aso replied expressionlessly.

Aso knew that there was no way this case could escape trial.

no way.

That's all.

Although he spent a lot of money to hire a so-called high-end legal team.

However, it's useless.

The victor is king, the loser is villain; who told you to lose?

Now, I imagine my name is being cursed by people on the streets every day.

Having caused such a commotion, Aso knew perfectly well that they would not let him off the hook.

Therefore, I can only plead guilty and accept the punishment, and ask the court for a lenient sentence.

However, the lawyer named Kitahara recommended by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Terada some time ago.

He told me that I was innocent.

Thinking of this, Aso couldn't help but chuckle.

Innocent? How is that possible?
Aso didn't actually believe Kitahara's statement.

However, when he saw this lawyer, Kitahara, fighting for his right to have his shackles removed, he decided to help the young man find the bank account he was investigating that was linked to Congress.

Not guilty.

I doubt even a lawyer could argue for innocence in such a situation.

What kind of commotion would that cause?

Judge Yamashiro nodded, then looked at the defense lawyers' seats, "Does the defense have any objections to the validity of the charges in this case?"

Nishio was the first to answer:

"The defense has no objection to the charges in this case, but has arguments regarding sentencing. These will be addressed in court."

Judge Shancheng nodded.

Everyone believed that the judge's questioning was merely procedural.

After all, no one would argue that the defendant is innocent in such a case—such a crazy idea.

The controversy surrounding the shackles before the trial appears to be over.

Even the lawyer Kitahara couldn't make any difference.

Just then, a male voice rang out:
"Your Honor. After reviewing the entire case file, the defense counsel believes that the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office's charges against the defendant, Soichi Aso, for the crime of fundraising fraud are seriously unclear and lack sufficient evidence. Therefore, the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office's criminal charges against the defendant should be dismissed in accordance with the law!"
(End of this chapter)