Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 34 Tingyi
The first step is the reading of the indictment.

Gu Yansheng was the first to speak.

". Your Honor, at the time of the incident, an important Japanese person came to the French Concession to handle private matters. Due to the recent tense security situation in the Concession, the French side, in accordance with the principle of friendship and mutual assistance, provided limited convenience to the Japanese side within the French Concession.

Using Japanese security personnel in plain clothes to provide security for important Japanese figures is in line with international law and the consistent approach of major countries in handling such matters.

This is a very normal thing.

However, major media outlets, led by Shenbao, distorted the facts, confused right and wrong, and maliciously spread rumors that were detrimental to our client, causing them to spread widely, causing our international reputation to suffer significant losses!
As a key player in the dissemination of social information, the media should report what they see and hear accurately based on facts in a fair and objective manner.

It does not require that it must be right, but at least it cannot distort the facts or even use insulting words to attack any party just to attract attention or increase sales.

This is an infringement on the right to reputation and a harm to the public's right to know.

We demand that all major newspapers must cease the infringement, eliminate the impact, and restore our reputation. They must issue a solemn apology for this incident on the front page of each newspaper and compensate for the loss of reputation at a cost of one yuan.

The contents of the indictment alone were enough to make all parties watching the trial burst into laughter.

I originally thought that it was the Japanese who arrested anti-Japanese elements and the French Concession cooperated. But the actual situation was that there were Japanese nobles who went to the French Concession for sightseeing, and the Japanese soldiers only provided protection?
It was completely unexpected for everyone.

The judge banged the gavel. "Keep quiet, plaintiff's lawyer. Continue."

Wolfe spoke second.

"Your Honor, my client, the Japanese side, thanks the French side for their cooperation in this matter and regrets the damage to their reputation. On behalf of my client, I am filing a complaint against all major newspapers, demanding the restoration of both the Japanese and French sides' reputations. I solemnly declare that the Japanese side will not infringe upon the fundamental rights of major countries in the concessions. On the contrary, the rights of all countries in Shanghai will be protected according to the law."

The Japanese are just following the crowd. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that they are just followers in this matter, so no one bothers to listen. The focus is still on the defendant's speech.

Smith Freehills’ strong record is what makes them look forward to it.

"The defendant makes a defense." The judge also followed suit.

Everyone's eyes turned to Smith.

Smith stood up slowly, without any sign of panic, and nodded to the judge before looking at his opponents, the two sitting in the plaintiff's seat, Gu Yansheng and Wolf.

"Assassination and protection are in line with international practice and easy to explain.

Now Japan and France are sitting together, and the top players in this whole thing have reached a consensus on their confessions, saying what they say is what they mean, using force to overwhelm public opinion."

"Objection!" Wolfe stood up. "Your Honor, the defendant's lawyer is making groundless speculations! And it has already damaged the reputation of our client."

"The objection is valid." The judge looked at Smith. "Defendant's lawyer, please be careful with your wording."

"Sorry, I take it back." Smith smiled.

The words can be taken back, but judging by the audience's reaction, they obviously took it to heart. Seeing the Japanese and French sitting together and whispering, it really looked like they had coordinated their confessions, and the distrust in their eyes began to grow.

The purpose has been achieved.

"Your Honor, I would like to ask the plaintiff, Mr. Richard, the French Consul."

"allow."

"Mr. Richard, the list of evidence you submitted includes a protection strategy for this noble's itinerary that we developed after discussing it with the Japanese side.

It was clear that protection was to be provided by both sides, with the French Concession as the main force and the Japanese military providing protection in surrounding areas as a supplement.

Is that the arrangement?"

The question was easy, and Richard answered, "Yes."

Smith nodded. "Okay, speaking of protection, then the protection of diplomats or nobles is usually carried out openly by the police or gendarmes in international practice to ensure the safety of tourists and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Of course, if I ask this question to Mr. Richard, he should reply to me that Shanghai has been quite unstable recently with some assassination attempts, so it is not convenient to make it public to avoid unnecessary accidents. Right, Mr. Richard? "

Richard thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes, the assassination has already invaded the French Concession. For the safety of Japanese personnel, we made this choice."

"Okay. If you don't choose to make it public, then you're protecting them privately. Then I'd like to ask Mr. Consul why, in this incident, it took a full five minutes for the police to arrive after the arrest at the restaurant!

Where are the people we promised to meet in the French Concession?!"

Smith's voice suddenly became louder, from a question to a question.

"Providing protection, yet there wasn't a single person in uniform present. If something were to happen, how would you show the public your official status? How would you gain their support? Is this reasonable?"

The Japanese are afraid of assassination and are not convenient to reveal their identities. How come, the policemen in your French Concession are also afraid of assassination and are not convenient to reveal their identities, right?

During those five minutes, there wasn't a single French police officer. Who was the leader among those involved? Was it the French or the Japanese? Who was providing protection for this nobleman?

According to the Sino-French New Treaty, the Municipal Council enjoyed independent administrative power in the French Concession, and the New Treaty also clearly stipulated that foreign armed forces were not allowed to exercise law enforcement powers within the concession.

The people were arrested and then handed over to the French police who arrived late. Isn't this a naked exercise of law enforcement power?

Isn’t this irrefutable evidence that the French Concession transferred law enforcement power to Japan?

Even if it's just a handover at some point!
Is there something wrong with what the newspaper reported?"

"Good." Some reporters below couldn't help but applaud.

But he was immediately struck with the gavel by the judge.

Smith pressed on aggressively, not giving him a chance to breathe. "Mr. Richard, how do you explain this?"

Richard was a little embarrassed. The question Smith asked was not on the preset path at all. There was only one option to answer, which was that most of the plainclothes officers who participated in the protection and arrest in the restaurant were actually French police.

This perfectly neutralized Smith's attack.

But will there be any pitfalls?

He knew without asking that these people were definitely not from the police station.

Richard hesitated.

But hesitating for even a second in court is a sign of guilt.

The sound of a pen being thrown onto the lawyer's desk broke the tense atmosphere.

Gu Yansheng, who was originally leaning on the chair and wanted to sway, stood up calmly.

"be opposed to."

"Your Honor, the defendant's lawyer questioned a consular officer in an interrogative tone, which was disrespectful to my client's country. I demand that he apologize now.

Secondly, this question is irrelevant to the present case and the parties involved do not need to answer it."

"Of course there is a connection, and it is extremely relevant."

Smith didn't even wait for the judge to speak and started explaining.

Just clapping, "Apologize first." Gu Yansheng said, slamming the table.

Smith's offensive rhythm was interrupted. He looked at Gu Yansheng dimly for two seconds, smiled slightly, and bowed to Richard: "Mr. Consul, I apologize for my tone just now."

Richard straightened his suit, leaned back on the stool, and suddenly he was no longer panicked.

(End of this chapter)