Chapter 7: Committing Fraud in Court, Is This a Lawyer?

"Judge, I request to use the restroom. Please recess the trial!"

Zhang Changming was sweating profusely. The intensity of the confrontation was too much for him to bear. He had to go to the restroom and smoke a couple of cigarettes to calm down.

"Is the pressure that great? This is the first time I've seen Lawyer Zhang use the restroom during a trial."

"This kid Lin Chuan is something else. An intern lawyer actually managed to pin down a gold - medal lawyer on the ground and rub him around. Zhang Changming is going to end his career in disgrace!"

"Look at Zhang Changming's hairstyle. At the beginning of the trial, his slicked - back hair was shiny and bright. Now it can't even stand up straight."

"Come on, Old Zhang! You need to pull yourself together!"

...

The comments in the live - streaming room were full of mockery towards Zhang Changming.

"The request is reasonable. Allow the defendant's lawyer to use the restroom."

Judge Qi Jun's eyes were filled with shock. He had dealt with Zhang Changming before, but this was the first time he had seen him in such a sorry state.

"Thank you, Judge."

Zhang Changming went to the restroom looking disheveled.

As he urinated, he lit a cigarette.

Click.

He took two deep puffs.

Only then did he start to feel better.

At this moment, his mobile phone suddenly vibrated. Someone was calling.

"Zhang Changming, what the hell are you doing!"

"Lu Zhou's top three gold - medal lawyers, and you let an intern lawyer beat you up so badly."

"If we lose this case, who will be left at our Xinyang Law Firm? How can we survive in this industry!"

Gao Yang, the major shareholder of the law firm, called. As soon as the call was connected, he started scolding Zhang Changming.

"I'm sorry, Chairman. I was careless this time. I wasn't well - prepared."

Zhang Changming's face contorted as he took a deep drag on his cigarette and threw the cigarette butt into the urinal.

In fact, Zhang Changming hadn't made any preparations for this case at all.

Because from the evidence in the case file, he already felt invincible.

Moreover, Lin Chuan was an intern lawyer he had arranged for the plaintiff. With zero defense experience, Zhang Changming was even more convinced that he would win this case.

But he didn't expect that in the first defense, facing the solemn courtroom, Lin Chuan was not only unafraid but also able to present various pieces of evidence with ease. This made Zhang Changming feel ashamed of himself, much worse than when he first became a defense lawyer.

"Our Xinyang Law Firm has been very kind to you. Just think about it. With your son's academic qualifications, how could he get into our Xinyang?"

"I let him in through the back door just for your face!"

"Lawyer Zhang, snap out of it in the second half!"

"If we really let the intern lawyer fired by our Xinyang win the case, our reputation will be ruined. Who will want to cooperate with us in the future?"

Chairman Gao Yang was getting anxious.

In order to deal with the matter of Zhang Changming's son getting in through the back door, he had ruthlessly kicked Lin Chuan out of Xinyang Law Firm. But now he was very regretful, feeling that he was going to suffer retribution!

"Yes! Yes!"

"Chairman, don't worry. In the second half, I will do my best to defend."

Facing the chairman's scolding, Zhang Changming kept nodding.

He also knew what the consequences would be if he lost this case. In the future, not only would Xinyang Law Firm be deserted, but his title as a gold - medal lawyer would also become a joke in the legal circle.

So, he must not lose!

Zhang Changming took a deep breath, adjusted his state, fixed his hairstyle, and returned to the courtroom.

"The defendant's lawyer has returned to the trial scene. Let's continue the trial and play the recording."

Judge Qi Jun saw Zhang Changming return to his original position and waved his hand.

The bailiff Mingtian immediately pointed the voice recorder at the microphone for amplification.

Section 10

The voice in the voice recorder, after being amplified, could be heard by the spectators in the courtroom and there was also a dedicated volume input source in the live - streaming room.

"Dr. Zhang, this is a small gift. It's not much."

"Mr. He, you gave me so much money. No, no, I can't accept it."

"Dr. Zhang, please don't refuse. You've done something for our Tianyi. You should accept this gift."

"Hey, it's not a big deal to issue a depression certificate. Nowadays, the state has strict control over mental illness certificates, but it's very easy to get a depression certificate. It's just a piece of cake for me."

"Tianyi, quickly thank Dr. Zhang."

"Thank you, Dr. Zhang!"

...

The two - minute recording was clearly heard by everyone.

Especially the last sentence, which was exactly the same as He Tianyi's voice.

"Judge, may I please state the content of the recording?"

Lin Chuan and Qi Jun exchanged glances. "Everyone can hear it clearly."

"There are three people in the recording. The first is the defendant He Tianyi, the second is He Tianyi's father He Xiao, and the third is the psychologist surnamed Zhang."

"The content of the recording is: He Xiao used his connections to ask Dr. Zhang to issue a depression certificate for He Tianyi."

As soon as Lin Chuan finished speaking, a staff member behind the scenes walked up to Qi Jun. "Judge, after our technical comparison, the voice of He Tianyi in the recording is 100% matched."

Out of nowhere, He Tianyi on the defendant's bench suddenly felt that he was wearing too little and was cold!

"Judge, even if the voice of He Tianyi in the recording matches, it doesn't necessarily mean that the depression certificate is fake."

"Currently, AI technology is very advanced. As far as I know, foreign AI software can simulate a voice that is 100% identical to the original person by extracting the voice."

"On short - video platforms."

"I've seen AI Guo Degang telling jokes in English, James reciting Tang poems fluently in Chinese, and Pu Jing speaking authentic Shandong dialect."

"So, the authenticity of this recording file is questionable."

At this critical moment, Zhang Changming stepped forward.

Facing the recording file, the experienced Zhang Changming put aside the issue of the authenticity of the depression certificate for the time being, then pointed out that the authenticity of the recording evidence lacked verification, muddying the waters. At the same time, he gave three examples to increase his persuasiveness, making everyone believe that in today's rapidly developing modern society, the recording file could only be used as supplementary evidence.

"What Lawyer Zhang Changming said also makes sense."

Judge Qi Jun nodded slightly. Since 2023, with the rapid development of AI, the cost of forging recordings has greatly decreased, and it has become increasingly difficult to authenticate recordings.

Therefore, in court, the status of recording files has changed from direct evidence to supplementary evidence.

"If the plaintiff's lawyer can present other evidence to prove that my client's depression certificate is forged, then please continue."

"If there is no other evidence, it cannot be said that my client's depression certificate is fake."

This time, Zhang Changming felt that he had the upper hand again, and his expression regained some of its former charm.

But before he could finish speaking, Lin Chuan calmly spoke up.

"Yes!"

"Since the defendant's lawyer says that the recording can't prove the authenticity of the depression certificate."

"Well then, let's test it right here in court!"

"Before the trial, I have already contacted three well - known domestic depression experts. They will conduct a comprehensive assessment of He Tianyi."

"During the assessment, various tests need to be carried out, such as blood sampling, emotional questionnaires, lie detectors..."

Lin Chuan raised his voice, full of confidence.

"Defendant He Tianyi, are you ready? The plaintiff's lawyer is going to test you for depression."

The judge was surprised by Lin Chuan. This guy was really thoughtful and had anticipated such an emergency situation.

"This... I... I'm ready."

He Tianyi's eyes dodged. Well - known medical experts, depression tests, comprehensive assessments, blood sampling, emotional questionnaires...

When he heard this series of words, he completely collapsed.

He knew very well that as a top - notch rich second - generation, who partied every day and had never experienced even mild anxiety, let alone depression. Without thinking, he would expose himself once the test was carried out.

"Judge, I... I admit that the depression certificate is fake."

He Tianyi's psychological defense was broken.

And Lin Chuan showed an innocent smile and said lightly, "Just kidding. I'm just a college graduate. Where would I find well - known medical experts to do the assessment for you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole courtroom was in an uproar.

Everyone looked at each other, having never seen such a strange operation before.

It turns out that in a solemn courtroom, lawyers can also lie!

It's not the opponents like gods that you should fear, but...

Zhang Changming slammed the table angrily.

"Idiot teammate!"

"Judge, he's committing fraud!"

He Tianyi's pupils dilated. Pointing at Lin Chuan, his eyes seemed to be shooting lava.

He had never dreamed that someone would commit fraud in court. It was too lawless!

Judge Qi Jun rubbed his temples. He had a headache!

The plaintiff Lin Chuan didn't play by the rules, but no fault could be found with him.

"Cough cough cough... Defendant He Tianyi."

"Just now, the plaintiff's lawyer deceived you verbally. It brought no benefits to him personally, so it doesn't constitute fraud."

"But you can say that he has a moral problem."

Qi Jun rolled his eyes at Lin Chuan.

In court, a lawyer openly teased the law. But as a judge, he was helpless. This feeling was like having ants crawling all over his body.

"Judge, I have no morals."

Lin Chuan shrugged with an indifferent expression.

As long as you have no morals, you won't be bound by morality.

"Judge, look at him!"

He Tianyi was stunned.

Zhang Changming wasn't much better either. His blood pressure soared to 180. He trembled as he took out his antihypertensive pills from his pocket and swallowed them all.

This lawsuit was going to give him a cerebral hemorrhage!

Who would suffer from this?