70: Handcuffs shattered brotherhood, confessions were all in the name of the eldest brother

The crime of embezzlement is a charge that cannot be taken too seriously, because if it were, many company bosses would end up in jail.

Or rather, many economic crimes are like this; on the one hand, there are too few economic investigation officers to handle all the cases, and on the other hand… the focus is still on economic development.

Rule of law is necessary, but economic development is also essential. That’s why, back in 2020, the Supreme People's Procuratorate stated that it would support the healthy development of the private economy with greater force.

For the private economy and entrepreneurs, arrests should be avoided if legally possible, prosecutions should be avoided if possible, and recommendations for probation should be made if a custodial sentence can be avoided.

In addition, some provinces have also issued specific regulations. In short, both the rule of law and economic development must be coordinated.

However, it's different now. Zhou Yun has almost all the evidence ready, along with the suspect's identity information and address.

What else can be said? This kind of case definitely needs to be handled.

After taking a brief statement and watching Zhou Yun sign, the Police Officer went inside to report.

After about ten minutes, the Police Officer and a leader from the Police Station came out.

"Director Wang, this is Comrade Zhou Yun. He said he is a Lawyer Zhou."

The leader, addressed as Director Wang, heard this and said, "Lawyer Zhou, right? You're that one from Jinghai..."

Zhou Yun nodded, "Yes, that's me. Have you heard about me?"

Director Wang immediately laughed, "Of course! I estimate that people in the Public Security Bureau system nationwide should have heard about you. I've watched your video many times."

In peacetime, the Public Security Bureau system probably has the most casualties.

Director Wang was also amazed after watching the video. With such a strong performance, he would definitely be a fierce general in the Public Security Bureau system.

If he were from within the system, that performance alone could qualify him for a hero nomination... Of course, whether he could actually be awarded is uncertain, but that kind of performance is truly admirable!

"I was just saying that in all my years as a Police Officer, I've never encountered such a way of reporting a case. This is purely giving us performance, so it turns out Lawyer Zhou has arrived."

Director Wang said with a laugh. Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he even started joking.

"I'll give you the acceptance receipt shortly. This case needs to be reported, and there's definitely no problem with filing it!"

Zhou Yun nodded, "Alright, thank you. I just have an impolite request, I wonder if you..."

Director Wang directly said, "Go ahead, Lawyer Zhou."

Zhou Yun thought for a moment and said, "It's just that when you arrest the suspect, can you tell him that I wholeheartedly collected evidence and reported the case?"

Hmm... huh? Director Wang was also stunned by this request. "No, Lawyer Zhou, is that really necessary? This is just an economic crime; he'll be out eventually."

"What if he retaliates against you after he gets out...?"

Zhou Yun heard this and laughed, "That's fine. The other party was too arrogant before. I just want him to know. This shouldn't be against regulations, right?"

As he spoke, Zhou Yun had already pulled out a commitment letter, with his name and fingerprint on it.

He's doing this for no other reason than to break his spirit. I told you back then, as long as you don't kill me, I'll pursue this case to the end.

There must be a result, right? Mr. Zhou acts like this; he sees things through from beginning to end.

Director Wang looked at the commitment letter in his hand, remained silent, then nodded, "It's not against regulations..."

According to regulations, case handlers cannot disclose the informant's information; this is a rule.

But the regulations didn't say what would happen if the informant actively requested it. In the absence of a regulation, it is implicitly allowed.

Everything was settled. Zhou Yun said goodbye and then left.

Everything was ready, all that was left was President Meng.

It was another midday, and Meng Guoliang was having lunch with Mi Jingming.

"Big Brother, that matter from last time, should it be fine now?" After a few drinks, Meng Guoliang spoke.

Mainly, Zhou Yun's words back then made him feel a bit unnerved. How could there be such a perverted person?

Mi Jingming heard this and laughed, "Fifth Brother, it's been so long, what are you still worrying about?"

"I told you it's nothing. That Zhou Yun was just trying to scare you. What can he do? He's not a leader, just a lawyer, what's he worth? It's not like you haven't dealt with lawyers around here."

"Every single one of them acts like a grandson, what's there to be afraid of?"

After speaking, he looked again and said, "And I also asked a lawyer for you, our local Old Gong. He said it's fine, so don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Meng Guoliang finally nodded, "Then I'm relieved, Big Brother. It's just that the lawyer surnamed Mr. Zhou was like a madman that day. Never mind, let's drink."

After a few drinks, the brothers' bond deepened, and Big Brother Mi Jingming was even happier, saying that his brothers were the most important to him.

Just then, the door to the restaurant private room was knocked.

Mi Jingming immediately felt a bit displeased. He gestured with his eyes, and the person next to him stood up and went to open the door.

"Who is it, what do you want..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was directly choked back, because at the door were surprisingly many Police Officers!

Before they could react, several Police Officers rushed in and immediately took control of Meng Guoliang, who was standing there, dazed with a wine glass in hand.

"What's your name? I'm asking you, what's your name?" One of the Police Officers asked.

"Meng Guoliang, no, what are you doing? Why are you arresting me?!" Meng Guoliang shouted.

Mi Jingming on the side also reacted, standing up directly and saying, "What's going on? What did my brother do?!"

The leading Police Officer glanced at Mi Jingming, a strange expression flashed across his face, and then he said, "Are you his relative?"

"No, but I'm his Big Brother, I..."

"Then it has nothing to do with you. We will inform his family after we're done."

The leading Police Officer finished speaking, then came to Meng Guoliang, "Meng Guoliang, we are from the Economic Investigation Detachment of the Public Security Bureau. You are suspected of embezzlement, and we are now issuing a criminal summons to you!"

"This is the summons. Please cooperate with our work!"

By this time, with a few drinks in him, Meng Guoliang's courage had grown.

"You think I'll cooperate just because you tell me to? Why? I haven't committed any crime. I don't know anything about embezzlement. Let me go, you let me go!"

As Meng Guoliang struggled desperately, and the people around him seemed to be stirring, two of the Police Officers directly pulled out their handcuffs.

"Meng Guoliang, you are now being warned. Please cooperate with our work, do you hear me? Otherwise, we will use police equipment!"

However, such a warning was useless. Meng Guoliang, emboldened by alcohol and the number of people around him, didn't care at all.

Besides, Big Brother was still here. Big Brother has been doing very well all these years, what's there to be afraid of!

"You have the guts..."

Before he could finish speaking, two Police Officers stepped forward, performed a grappling move, and Meng Guoliang's arms were brought behind him. The handcuffs were directly put on.

As for warning three times, the 'Regulations on the Use of Police Equipment and Weapons by People's Police' has no such provision for warning three times.

The regulation states: When People's Police use expulsive or subduing police equipment, they should first issue a warning. If the warning is ineffective, they may use it. When People's Police deal with serious violent crimes, if warnings are ineffective, they may use weapons.

In other words, according to the regulations, for things like pepper spray or handcuffs, generally only one warning is needed. If you don't listen, they can use it directly.

Nowadays, because of "find the Police Officer if you have problems," many people feel that the Public Security Bureau is amiable.

But in fact, the political textbook makes it very clear, and anyone who has graduated from junior high school knows that the Public Security Bureau is a state's violent organ!

As the handcuffs were placed on his wrists, the cold sensation instantly sobered Meng Guoliang.

Meng Guoliang immediately looked at Mi Jingming next to him: "Big Brother, I, I don't know anything, Big Brother..."

Embezzlement, he hadn't even heard of this charge.

Mi Jingming, with wide eyes, was about to say something, and the other diners were also watching.

The leading Police Officer's hand was on his waist. Such an arrest mission would definitely involve carrying weapons.

As this action was made, Mi Jingming involuntarily swallowed. "Fifth Brother, well, you should cooperate first."

Mi Jingming himself had never heard of the crime of embezzlement, but the name gave him a bad feeling.

Was there still trouble from the unfinished building?

But there are so many unfinished buildings nationwide, and they haven't arrested all the developers. What's going on?

Now he certainly didn't dare to move and could only let his brother cooperate.

Upon hearing this, Meng Guoliang's heart instantly chilled by half. Just moments ago, they were making vows of brotherhood, and now that I'm about to be arrested, Big Brother, you're telling me to cooperate?

He used to talk so big, about having strong connections in the city, being able to get things done with one phone call, but now...

Meng Guoliang was taken away, still holding on to a last sliver of hope that his Big Brother would surely save him.

Mi Jingming watched as the Police Officers left, then slumped into his seat, a hint of lingering fear on his face.

"Big Brother, what do we do now?" someone next to him asked.

Mi Jingming waved his hand, "Everyone go back first, I'll figure something out, I'll think..."

He still had some understanding of the Public Security Bureau's situation. Such a high-profile arrest surely meant there was a demand from higher-ups, and his connections would be useless now.

But in front of his subordinates, he had to put on a show.

Mi Jingming had already decided: first, he would inquire about the situation. If it might involve him, he would quickly flee!

In the police car, one of the Police Officers looked at the dejected Meng Guoliang and said, "Meng Guoliang, I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Meng Guoliang looked up.

"The reason you were arrested is because a Lawyer Zhou named Zhou Yun reported the case. He collected almost all the evidence and specifically instructed us when he reported the case to make sure to tell you this."

"Just so you know. Now you know, right?"

Meng Guoliang was stunned. He had never expected it to be like this!

He remembered now, Zhou Yun had said before that if he wasn't dead, it wouldn't be over with him. This was truly not over.

That person must be crazy. The unfinished building wasn't even bought by him, why is he so crazy!

Meng Guoliang's mental state collapsed. It truly collapsed. Zhou Yun's psychological warfare was something he simply couldn't withstand.

He was taken back and immediately subjected to interrogation.

In fact, Mi Jingming had also been under surveillance for a long time. As long as Meng Guoliang's confession could be obtained, Mi Jingming could be directly summoned.

After all, the evidence provided by Zhou Yun included proof that Mi Jingming was the actual controller of Lichang Company.

Meng Guoliang originally wanted to resist. Although he had never been to prison before, he had been to detention centers many times.

Fighting, soliciting prostitutes, drunk driving—basically, he had done almost everything imaginable that violated the Law on Public Security Administration Punishments.

Although he came from a gangster background, many of these gangsters actually knew how to fight with restraint. Most of the time, it was to scare people.

A classic example would be... speaking of Brother Long again.

On the contrary, those teenage novices strike harder than anyone else, and their age is getting younger and younger, like the three who were just sentenced in a certain place.

The interrogating Police Officer brought out the recording of his confession, and Meng Guoliang was dumbfounded again.

He remembered that Zhou Yun had deliberately told him then that he was recording, and he had specifically admitted to it.

At this point, the interrogating Police Officer struck while the iron was hot and said, "So, tell us, who is the real person in charge of Starlight Real Estate Company?"

"Confess and be lenient, understand? Because even if you don't say anything, we can still investigate it. Think carefully, how much benefit can you get from taking the blame for someone else, is it worth it?"

These words were like hammers striking Meng Guoliang's heart. He resisted, and resisted again, but finally couldn't hold out.

Because he thought of Mi Jingming's attitude at the time. Big Brother was no longer the Big Brother he used to be.

Before, they were all bachelors and poor, so everyone could fight for loyalty.

But now it's different. They all have money, started companies, got into real estate, and are all married. Compared to family, brotherhood seems to fall a bit short.

Finally, Meng Guoliang spoke.

"It's my Big... it's Mi Jingming. He did everything. He said he'd give me a sum of money and let me be the boss of this company, but he only mentioned debt issues..."

As Meng Guoliang spoke, he was still comforting himself, 'See, Big Brother only asked me to take on debts, he never said anything about going to jail for this!'

Going to jail... that would be a different price.

As the saying goes, if you often walk by the river, how can your shoes not get wet? Since your shoes are wet, why not wash your feet?

Meng Guoliang talked and talked, spilling everything, including how they managed to siphon money from the company at the time.

Originally, under normal circumstances, even with cutting corners, the building could have been completed, but people were too greedy.

It can truly be said that the confession was all about Big Brother, 'Big Brother did it all!'

The Police Officer listened with amusement, especially when he heard Meng Guoliang say that his Big Brother had also made many people invest with him under various pretexts, his eyes began to light up even more!

Investment? That's called illegal absorption of public deposits!

After obtaining an accurate confession and retrieving corresponding Bank records based on the confession, the Public Security Bureau decided to arrest Mi Jingming.

This case involved an unfinished building, so Mi Jingming's assets had to be frozen during the arrest.

Money doesn't appear out of thin air, nor does it disappear into thin air. When the owners of unfinished buildings were struggling under heavy burdens, it was definitely because someone was piggybacking on them.

At the airport, Mi Jingming was just about to leave when he was caught red-handed.

Are you kidding? If he had escaped, the local Public Security Bureau would have been ridiculed for a long time.