Chapter 185
In a moment, the courtroom fell completely silent. The staff appeared one after another. Kylie and Quintina walked into the courtroom and stood in their designated positions. The moment Ethan saw Kylie, his Adam’s apple visibly bobbed..
Stella was beside him and saw it clearly. A trace of coldness flashed past her eyes.
She knew that Ethan had been helping Kylie with the case during this period of time, but from the information she received, he had not made much progress. She did not believe that Ethan could achieve much in such a short time.
As long as Kylie was sentenced, the Hayden family would not be able to get Ethan to be with Kylie even if they threatened to die.
Moreover, as long as Kylie was sentenced to prison, Stella could find 10,000 ways to let Kylie die accidentally in prison.
Stella was scheming in her mind
The clerk began to read out the order and discipline of the scene. After that, the presiding judge took his seat. Everyone stood up and then sat down.
The presiding judge announced the start of the trial.
Wayne Hayes, the prosecutor, stood up and gave an account of the incident. “On November 3, the procuratorate received an anonymous report. The person in charge of Galaxy Group, Kylie Stafford, was accused of bribery and tax evasion. The bribe amount was 1.6 million dollars, and the tax evasion amount was as high as 10 million dollars. The anonymous informant provided details of the bribe, photos of the bribe payer and bribe taker having meals together, and Galaxy Group’s tax declaration details. On November 4, the procuratorate carried out an investigation on Kylie according to normal procedure. The facts of the crime were clear, and she was transferred to the administrative department for detention the same afternoon. As a result, the prosecution filed a lawsuit.
The presiding judge nodded. “The indictment is established. Please hand over the defendant’s criminal evidence to the judge
“Yes.” Wayne respectfully handed it to a staff member.
The staff member delivered it to the judge.
Wayne said to the presiding judge. “Your Honor, please allow the anonymous informant, Shawn Lynch, to appear in court.”
“Permission granted.”
Shawn walked into the courtroom.
Before appearing in court, no one knew that he was the informant. Because he had been hiding, Kylie didn’t have a chance to investigate him.
Shawn looked to be in his forties. He had a big belly and wore a suit and leather shoes. He looked very similar to a civil
servant.
“There’s no need to be nervous. You j
“Alright.” Shawn nodded.
just have to and
to answer my questions honestly.” Wayne comforted ShawnL
“What’s your name? What do you do? Why did you report Ryan Price, the deputy director of the government tax office, fort corruption and bribery?” Wayne asked seriously.
“My name is Shawn Lynch. I’m an employee of the government tax office. I reported Ryan for corruption and bribery because, from the perspective of justice, I can’t accept that the tax office chief, who talks about benevolence and morality, actually committed a crime in secret.”
“How did you find out that he was bribed, and how did you get evidence that he was bribed?” Wayne continued to ask. “During this period of time, Loften saw Mr. Price and Kylie having meals together. Once, I went with them and accidentally overheard them talking. At that time, I didn’t believe it. It wasn’t until I personally checked Galaxy Group’s tax declaration form that I realized that there was a serious problem with Galaxy Group’s tax declaration. I didn’t dare to alert them, so I secretly investigated Mr. Price’s account during this period of time. I found an unknown incoming payment of one million dollars in the account he opened in his wife’s name.”
“Alright, thank you” Wayne nodded and ended his questioning swiftly. “Your Honor, please allow the bribe taker, Ryan Price, to appear in court.”
“Permission granted.”
Ryan walked into the courtroom.
After Wayne clarified Ryan’s identity, he asked, “Did you accept one million dollars in bribery from Kylie and help her evade taxes of more than 10 million dollars?”
Chapter 185
“Yes,” Ryan confessed.
“Alright, thank you.” Wayne nodded.
Then, Kylie’s finance employee, Katie, appeared in court.
“Did Kylie ask you to transfer one million dollars to this account Wayne asked.
“Yes.” Katie lowered her head, not daring to look at Kylie
“Did Kylie put you up to the false tax declaration, too?”
“Yes.”
“Is everything you say about your testimony true?
“Everything is true. Katie’s tone was firm
nt is over.”
“Alright.” Wayne turned to the presiding judge and said. “Your Honor, the prosecution’s legal argument is
“Counsel for the prosecution, please return to your seat.
The presiding judge said to Quintina, “Counsel for the defense, please present your legal defense to the prosecution’s
statement.”
Quintina glanced up at the presiding judge.
During the prosecutor’s argument just now, she had been looking down at the information in her hand. She was indifferent to all the conclusive evidence. Many people thought that she had given up.
When she heard the presiding judge call her, she put down the documents and put on her glasses.
Quintina looked even more intellectual with her glasses on. At this moment, she was also wearing a black slim–fit suit, the standard attire of a lawyer.
She stepped forward and said unhurriedly, Tm filing a plea of innocence for my client.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd was in an uproar.
It was already a conclusive fact, yet she still brazenly claimed innocence.
Everyone could not help but look at Quintina again.
Quintina actually didn’t have much experience in defense lawsuits. Most of the time, she was handling the Vanderbilt family’s disputes, so she wasn’t famous in the lawyer circle. Some of the lawyers who came to listen in had mocking smiles on their faces. When they first heard that Kylie’s lawyer was Quintina, they thought Kylie would lose the lawsuit.
It wasn’t just the lawyers. Everyone else in the courtroom was sneering.
Perla could not help but laugh. Fortunately, they were not allowed to record anything in court, or she would be caught red–handed.
She thought, “Now that there are witnesses and evidence, Quintina still dared to say such words. She is simply unreasonable, Isn’t she afraid of having it blow up in her face in the end?‘
As for Stella, she remained dignified and did not waver because of Quintina’s words. There was still worry in her eyes. On the other hand, the dispirited Joel suddenly became energetic when he heard Quintina’s words. He even nudged Xavier. “I didn’t expect your wife to be so valiant when she’s serious.”
Xavier’s lips seemed to curl up a little.
However, he said indifferently. “How pretentious.”
Joel glanced at Xavier and thought, ‘He isn’t honest with himself.
The crowd was in an uproar.
The presiding judge’s expression was solemn. “Please maintain absolute silence in the court.”
Only then did everyone shut up.
“Continue, counsel for the defense,” the presiding judge said.
“Thank you, Your Honor.” Quintina bowed respectfully and stood up straight. She said clearly, “We heard the testimonies from the prosecution’s lawyer and witnesses. We have a few questions.”
