Chapter 28 - The Trial (1/2)
[DAY 7]
In a four corner room, a woman was sitting in a small bed. She was hugging her knees and her hair was disheveled. But she was not crying anymore.
In her mind, her grandmother was her first concern.
'Is she OK?
'Is she's not in pain?
'Is she awake already? Is she looking for me?'
”I'll definitely get you out..”
The voice of a young girl echoed in her mind.
She was very nervous for today. But she believed with Bivia and Huo Dian help she would get out of here. Besides, that girl promised...how that girl would do that she did not know...but she couldn't help to believe.
Cling Clang
She looked up and see a guard opening the door.
”Ms. Xiao Mei, I'll escort you out for your trial.” The guard said.
Xiao Mei gulped and stand up. With a cuff in her hand she followed the guard .
___________
After the ride to the court, she was led to a big door.
Four guards surrounded her. The one in front opened the door, and flash of lights greeted her. She could not help but closed her eyes.
The guard behind her pushed her forward, opening her eyes Xiao Mei was shocked.
'There's so many people....and cameras....'
As the trial was announced to publicize today, many media want to cover the trial . The SHM, the root of all, was on the back corner of the room.
Xiao Mei was led to the chair of defensive team. In that area she saw her best friend, Bivia Chang. Lawyer Chang smiled at her, reassuring her. On the opposite side, in the prosecutor's area, she saw Huo Dian. Huo Dian also saw her, and nod. She sat on her chair and Lawyer Chang hold her hand.
”Don't worry Mei, we will get you out.” Lawyer Chang whisper to her.
”E-en.” There's a lump in her throat. Her hands were sweaty. She looked at the witnessed area of the trial. Most people were reporters. Her eyes then traveled at the back seat. In the farthest corner, Xiao Mei saw a girl wearing a cap and a jacket. Even it was afar away she had an inkling that the girl was the one who promised her to help her. Lawyer Chang saw her gaze.
”That's Xiong Zhi. Don't worry, we will win this.”
The judges entered the room. After a while, they announced that the trial would began.
The prosecutor stand up for the opening statement.
Huo Dian stated the crime that Xiao Mei committed and its punishment once she was proven guilty. Then Lawyer Chang also stand up for opening statement and told them that the defendant denied the accusations.
Next, Presentment of Cases followed.
Prosecutor Huo Dian stand up and opened the projector, a picture of doc.u.ment appeared. He told them that this doc.u.ment was signed by the CEO's assistant, Xiao Mei, who were the only one who received the diamonds that they ordered. He then called the witness : one of the CJ's manager who was handling the shipments of diamonds they received.
Huo Dian began to ask questions.
”Are you the one who handed the ordered diamonds to Ms. Xiao Mei?”
”E-en”
”Before you handed it to her, did you touch any of the boxes?”
”N-no. It was sealed. The only one who can transfer them was Ms. Xiao only.”
” Did you see it for yourself that Ms. Xiao received the diamonds personally?”
”En.”
”When she entered the storage room, is she alone?”
”En”
”Does anyone beside Ms. Xiao handle the diamonds to the storage?”
”No. It was only Ms. Xiao Mei, no one else.”
”That's all, Judges.”
Then Lawyer Chang stand to begun cross examination.
”You said, you are the one that receive the shipments of diamonds, right ? And saw personally that Ms.Xiao was the one who transferred it?”
”En”
”Whenever Ms. Xiao came to you for the transfer, did she bring anything with her?”
The witness was silence for a moment. He looked at the audience area, from where the CEO and board of directors was sitting.
”N-no.”
”Not even a bag or a handkerchief?”
The witness think carefully.
”Nothing.” He answered truthfully .
”Did you personally send her towards the storage area?”
”Yes ”
”Did you also wait for her to come out?”
”Yes.”
”When you wait outside, how long does it takes for Xiao Mei to transfer it?”
”A-about two minutes.”
”When she comes out did she had anything with her?”
The witness looked at the audience area again, then peeked at Xiao Mei at the side.
He gritted his teeth, and answered the truth.
”N-no. She was bare handed.”
”That's all, judges, thank you.”
Whispers ,murmurs, and sounds of typing keyboards echoed through the court.
It was then the turn of Xiao Mei to testify to the case. She sat in the middle chair and Huo Dian began to question her.
”How long do you work for CJ's?”
”Almost 1 and a half.” Xiao Mei clearly answered.
”For all the transactions of receiving the diamonds, transferring them, you handle them alone since the time you work for CJ's?”
”Yes.”
”You are an assistant. Is it a part of your work?”
”As an assistant, no. But I cannot disobey my boss.”
”Your boss? CEO Long? Is he the one who ordered you to handle the receiving and transferring personally?”
”Yes.”
CEO Long stand up from the audience.