Wednesday, 4 October 2006
... thoughts : Case #88: People versus Liang Jieming on charges of Kidnapping, Unlawful Imprisonment and Bribery
Defendant : Liang Jieming 梁傑明
Prosecution : The People
Charge : Kidnapping, Unlawful Imprisonment & Bribery
Cross-Examination of the Defendant & Final Verdict
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"So tell the court, on the morning of the 16th of November 2006, when you went to the victim's house, was your entry barred?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"Yes your Honour. They locked the gates and won't let me in."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"Did you and your friends attempt to gain entry through other means?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"Yes your Honour, we tried using the backdoors and even pushing our way through the maindoor"
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"So tell the court how you finally managed to gain entry into the said premises.
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"We attempted to negotiate with the door guards your Honour."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"Let the record note that these guards have been identified as the female friends of the victim, otherwise known as "Chee mui" or "sisters".
And then you bribed the guards?"
Defending Lawyer says:
"Objection your Honour. The Prosecution is leading the witness."
The Presiding Judge says:
"The court will disregard the last sentence and strike the last sentence from the record.
Please rephase your question and continue."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"Thank you your Honour.
What did you negotiate with the guards?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"We offered them money your Honour."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"And did the guards take your bribes?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"Yes your Honour but they were not satisfied until they had negotiated a large enough sum before they opened the door."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"And then what happened?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"We entered the house and took the victim... err... the bride away in our car."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"Let the record note that the defendant implicates the involvement of others, otherwise known as "Heng tai" or "brothers" in the alleged crimes.
Where then, did you take the victim?"
Liang Jieming 梁傑明 says:
"We took the err... bride back to my house and didn't let her go home until we were satisfied."
Prosecuting Lawyer says:
"No more questions your Honour. The Prosecution rests."
The Presiding Judge says:
"So ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have heard the final cross-examination of the defendant. Have you reached a verdict?
The Jury says:
"Yes we have your Honour.
We the Jury, find the defendant Liang Jieming, guilty on the charge of kidnapping. One the second charge of Unlawful Imprisonment, we the jury also find the defendant guilty. On the third charge of Bribery, guilty."
The Presiding Judge says:
"Will the defendant please rise for the verdict."
Court Official says:
"All rise."
The Presiding Judge says:
"We have heard both arguments from the Defense and from the Prosecution.
As Presiding Judge in the case of the People versus Liang Jieming, the People find you guilty on all the charges of kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and bribery.
You are hereby charged to a life sentence as a Husband and will pay monetary compensation everyday for the rest of your natural life.
Court is adjourned."
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Jeez...you really could live with this "sentence"? XD
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club, Kit Meng! :))
ReplyDeleteHey Frank! Thanks! But not yet. This is a future crime yet to be commited. But soon.
ReplyDeleteSo when's the big day?
ReplyDeleteIt's the 11th November banquet in Singapore, 16th November when I kidnap the bride home, then the 18th November main banquet in Kuala Lumpur. You won't happen to be around here on those dates would you?
ReplyDeleteSorry, no plans for SG or My at the moment. On the 18th of Nov I'm going back to Melbourne. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteHehehe, have a good trip back then.
ReplyDeleteUmm, the Heng Tai got off scott-free, right? Right?
ReplyDeleteOh of course not. The Heng Tai's all have individual court appearances starting from next week.
ReplyDeleteA competent defence lawyer would have pointed out to the Presiding Judge of the dire consequences to be faced by the defendant should the defendant have just turned around and departed at the first encounter with the barred portals, or should the defendant have gone home without attempting to negotiate passage fee with the "Chee Mui".
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, from records of previous cases, the defendant lawyer would have known that in 99.9999% of such cases, access into the residence were usually granted by the mothers or aunts of the victims ... I mean ... brides ... as the "Chee Mui" almost invariably renege of their deal and would attempt to demand a second bribe.
And also in 99.9999% of such cases, success in securing the victims and withdrawing from the premises were only possible when the same mothers/aunts of the victim barred the guards from exercising further interference, demonstrating unbelievable heartlessness in unheeding whatever pleas their daughters/nieces might make to prevent the abduction.
And depending on customs, the abductors might even be treated to customary refreshments prior to their departure.
With these mitigating factors, the Presiding Judge would almost certainly look at the defendant with more sympathetic countenance.
The Heng Tai will plead mitigating circumstances.
ReplyDeleteAh... aiding and abetting a kidnapping! We should drag those heartless aunts and mothers off to face trial too!
ReplyDeleteThey can always point to the complicity of the victim's own mother/aunt/grandmother/grandaunts in the abduction.
ReplyDeleteHmm...my own uncle's wedding was full of these kind of games which, unfortunately, I did not get to take part in as I was a girl and could not be a "Chee Mui" of his bride. :(
ReplyDeleteOh well. I always have my girl cousins! lol
I'm afraid this Heng Tai has no mitigating circumstances to plead. lol
ReplyDeleteThen the defence lawyer would have no choice but to play the final triumph card, despicable though it might be.
ReplyDeleteHardening his heart to ignore the victim's own state of anguish, he calls upon her to take the stand, and ask her the question, under oath, warning her the dire consequences of perjury, what she'd do if the primary culprit had attempted to depart *without* her that day.
hahaha, so it finally came out... I thought you were joking about putting this up - Guess there is not stopping AB if he should wished to kidnap his wife.
ReplyDeleteHehehe...to be a Heng Tai or Chee Mui on that day! XD
ReplyDeleteI have been a bridesmaid twice (I heard this myth about single ladies cannot exceed twice being bridesmaids otherwise will remain single ever after), then a few times 姐妹.. Actually imo, being 伴liang and 姐妹 can be quite tiring. Either stay in the bride's house overnight or has to go to the bride's house early in the morning.. usually the 吉时 is in the wee hours morning.. then tour around Singapore take pictures, followed by going to bgroom's house 叩头 过大礼, again back to bride's house.. mok, better eat well and have stamina that day, otherwise your pictures wont look good..
ReplyDeleteEh, what? Who? I'm not Chee Mui, what. lol
ReplyDeleteAh... then the defense can claim both economic duress as well as threat to person! Brilliant! I need to fire my lawyer and get a better one.
ReplyDeletebravo!
ReplyDeleteWhat?No cane or rotan for kidnapping and bribery?What is the world coming to? ;P
ReplyDeleteJeez...getting kinky? XD
ReplyDeleteNope, the penalty for kidnapping is actually death, if a death happened. However, with aggrieved assualt - as in this case, making the woman your wife... ummm, yes, Rotan is also recommended together with a number of years in prison... ummm maybe not... it could be life imprisonment without any hope of parole and cane!
ReplyDeleteIn any case, Princess, you have not done your duty to protect the innocent bride. tsk tsk tsk.