Tokyo Barrister: Start the law firm bankruptcy

Chapter 946 The Prosecutor's Office Takes Action
The entire courtroom was completely silent.

The people in the gallery were stunned. Many doubted their ears. Had the lawyer just said that the prosecutor's charges should be dismissed? If so, wouldn't that be tantamount to a not-guilty plea?! A not-guilty plea for a case that was already a foregone conclusion?!
The reporters in the gallery were the first to gasp in disbelief.

Aso's lawyers believe he is innocent, which is absolutely sensational news!

Upon hearing Kitahara's demand to dismiss the prosecutor's charges, Nishio froze, completely stunned. In his decades-long legal career, nothing like this had ever happened. To demand acquittal in a case of this magnitude was practically suicidal!
The prosecutor's office is right across the street!
The lawyers in Aso's legal team all looked extremely grim.

They were all extremely worried about angering the prosecutor's office and the court.

If these people in power are displeased, then sentencing them to life imprisonment according to the prosecutor's office's sentencing recommendation is a matter of minutes.

Many lawyers are already panicking.

What exactly is that lawyer Kitahara trying to do?!

now--

Prosecutors Takada and Akie, sitting in the prosecutor's dock, were caught off guard. Neither of them had considered the possibility that the opposing lawyer might plead not guilty.

At first, they thought they had misheard.

However, they saw that the court transcript indeed recorded that sentence—

They requested that the prosecutor's office dismiss the criminal charges.

In that instant, Qiu Hui was completely enraged.

If the shackles incident before the trial played a trick on the prosecutor's office...

Therefore, the lawyer's casual statement of not guilty is a complete mockery of the prosecutor's office.

Akie immediately stood up: "Attorney Kitahara! Are you serious?! Hundreds of prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor's Office have been involved in this case! And you're saying the defendant, Aso, isn't guilty?! Do you think all the manpower and resources our Public Prosecutor's Office has invested are just for show?!"

Akihime rebuked Kitahara without holding back!

This lawyer's defense of innocence is practically a slap in the face to the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office.

This is not a simple defense of innocence.

Instead, it's a public mockery of the prosecutor's office's incompetence!
“This is my legal opinion,” Kitahara said. “This is my independent conclusion based on the case files and the law! I don’t care how much work your prosecutor’s office has put in. I only care about whether the evidence presented in court at this moment can prove that the defendant is guilty!!”

Kitahara spoke with a firm voice.

No one present expected that a young man would dare to challenge the prosecutor's office single-handedly.

Prosecutor Takada glanced at Kitahara across from him and said in a deep voice:

"Attorney Kitahara, although my country's Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that defense counsel have the right to independent defense and can express their opinions independently of the defendant's confession, you should think carefully. Your defense will affect the court's determination of whether the defendant is truly remorseful, and consequently, the sentencing of your defendant!"

Takada gave a direct warning to the young man in front of him.

The implication is clear.

If you continue to insist on a not guilty plea, it could very likely bring adverse consequences for the defendant.

Hearing Takada's words, Miyagawa felt particularly disgusted. She immediately prepared to stand up and demand that the prosecutor explain himself clearly: what exactly did he mean by "affecting the sentencing of the defendant"?! What kind of impact?! How did he affect it?!
at this time--

Judge Yamashiro interrupted, saying, "Alright. The prosecution and defense should stop their pointless arguments. This court is only conducting a preliminary inquiry and gathering the initial opinions of both sides. Specific viewpoints can be presented in the subsequent court proceedings."

Kitahara's defense of innocence immediately pushed the case into an extremely delicate situation.

If the prosecutor's charges are indeed seriously flawed, it will undoubtedly tarnish the prosecutor's office's reputation. The audience was all curious to see what kind of sparks this trial would ignite.

Soon, under the judge's direction—

The court hearing has begun.

The prosecutor's office began presenting evidence.

Due to the large amount of case materials involved.

The process of providing evidence is lengthy.

The prosecutor's office first presented evidence regarding Ant Group's buyback business model.

At the scene, Prosecutor Qiu Hui presented a large number of contracts, charts, and company files. These materials were consistent with the business model described in the indictment.

After more than half an hour of presenting evidence—

Qiu Hui began by summarizing:
"The product promotional materials of Shanhu Capital regarding the Ant repurchase and the Ant repurchase contract signed between the victims and Shanhu Capital fully demonstrate that the business model involved is an inducement behavior that promises to guarantee principal and interest. By promising to repurchase the Ants held by the victims, it is actually a disguised form of paying interest returns."

"This is clearly an investment-fundraising activity!"

"Furthermore, the Tokyo Regional Financial Services Bureau had also issued a rectification notice to Mountain Lake Capital. This also proves that Aso was aware of and intentionally involved in his company's alleged illegal fundraising."

"These thousands of pages of contract documents are irrefutable facts proving that the defendant engaged in illegal fundraising! Furthermore, considering that the defendant is a former official of Toyo Bank, Aso should be well aware of the legal prohibitions against illegal fundraising."

"However, the defendant still knowingly violated the law. Even after the local regulatory agency issued a rectification order, he still refused to obey the order, ultimately causing significant losses to national property."

"This is enough to show that the defendant's subjective malice was extremely deep!"

"The harm caused by the defendant's actions is not limited to the loss of property."

"Aso used his status as a former official of Toyo Bank to promote himself to the public and solicit funds."

"This undoubtedly further damages the public's trust in our country's laws."

"Therefore, considering the severity of the defendant's crime, we request the court to impose severe punishment!!"

Qiu Hui's voice was extremely loud.

The evidence presented by the prosecutor's office in court was extremely solid.

As expected of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, this is the result of the dedication of hundreds of elite legal professionals.

The material was so heavy that there was almost nothing to criticize.

Aso's legal team remained silent in the face of such materials.

Nishio's heart pounded with anxiety. That lawyer, Kitahara, had just made a not-guilty plea and spoken with such arrogance. How was he supposed to respond?!
He pleaded not guilty.

If you can't directly respond to the prosecutor's charges, aren't you just asking for trouble?!
Nishio looked at Kitahara beside him.

Is this young man really capable?

After the first part of the prosecutor's office presented its evidence, all eyes in the room turned to the lawyer, Kitahara.

Will a miracle really happen in this case?

(End of this chapter)