The Ultimate Inspector, Kang Ji-hyeok - Chapter 11
Only Krnovel
Episode 11
“It’s terrible.”
“That thing on my neck······.”
The neck has turned black.
A bruise on the forehead that looks like it hit a wall.
I decided that it would be better to show you pictures rather than just hear about it.
The judge also frowns.
That’s cruelty.
It leaves a stronger impression than any words.
“The front of the neck was darker, which is evidence that the neck had been strangled from behind for a long time with something like thick leather.”
I said, waving my black calfskin belt.
The judge turns his head.
“Second Lieutenant Han Ji-min usually wore a leather belt similar to this when she wore plain clothes. According to the testimony of the owner of Seven Bar, that day, Second Lieutenant Han Ji-min was wearing a thick, luxury belt that was noticeable.”
The photo clearly showed that someone had grabbed him from behind by the neck and banged his head against the wall.
Another thing, the wording of ‘luxury belt’ makes people suspicious of Han Ji-min.
‘You bought a luxury belt with your so-called salary?’
This was a build-up for later.
“This is a photo of the actual incident. The doctor who conducted the autopsy received money from Lieutenant Han Ji-min and got a job at a hospital in China a week ago.”
A roaring audience.
The atmosphere has become cold.
But even in that time, Attorney Kim Ji-ho was certainly experienced.
“Hey! Inspector! Do you have any proof that this photo is actually of Sergeant Park Chung-deuk? It could be a forged photo.”
I thought you could do that much.
So, I thought I’d give it a shot here.
“Then, I would like to request a witness to confirm this incident.”
The judge goes through the papers and looks for the witness summons.
“The suspect’s name, Lee Hyun-soo, is written on the witness request form. Are you requesting that witness now?”
“Yes. In accordance with the witness request form already submitted, I hereby request Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su as the first witness.”
Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su, who was named as a witness.
His pupils shook violently.
Clearly, that guy is the ‘weakest link’ in this crime.
I’ll break that chain for you.
You may call me a vicious man, but I will take full advantage of everything the law has to offer me.
Come on, take the witness stand.
That will be the seat on the bus to hell.
This criminal is a cub.
The judge looks at the lawyer.
“Will the lawyer examine the witness first?”
“No. I will question you.”
Yeah, that’s normal.
First, after the prosecutor has elicited the testimony, isn’t it the job of the good lawyer to catch the tail of the story?
Honestly, I know that lawyers are also important in court.
But throughout my criminal career, the people I hated the most were lawyers.
They also didn’t like the fact that they were on their client’s side for ‘money’ even though they clearly knew that the client had committed a crime.
Not all lawyers are like that, but as detectives who work for a pitiful salary like us, we can’t help but hate them.
Honestly, it was like that.
Maybe it’s because of those feelings that I can’t treat the lawyer well.
In any case, they are enemies in court.
“Okay. Let’s start with the prosecutors.”
I bowed my head to the judge and approached Lee Hyun-soo, who was sitting in the witness stand.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
“yes.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I don’t know anything.”
I knew it would turn out like that.
You don’t know?
Isn’t it ‘I didn’t do it’?
You don’t know?
Click.
A picture of a pistol appeared on the screen.
“Whose gun is this?”
“It’s mine.”
“Is this the pistol you took out of the unit on the day of the incident?”
“Yes, I took it out by mistake. It’s not uncommon for executives to make such mistakes.”
This is clearly a practiced line.
He answered confidently, as if he had encountered an expected problem.
Yeah, that’s what we should do.
“Still, most of them submitted it when they got a call from the firearms officer.”
I said, holding up another piece of material.
“This data is the data on firearms management within the unit for one year. As 2nd Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su said, there are officers who sometimes forget to return their firearms and leave work, but except for this incident, everyone came back and returned them.”
Copies of the documents were also submitted to the judge and attorneys.
“I see. This is the only gun that wasn’t submitted.”
The judge nods.
There’s no way a lawyer would just sit by and watch that.
“I object. It was just a simple mistake. You see, the gun was returned the next morning, and there was no ammunition in it.”
“The fact that there are no live bullets has no bearing on the current situation. The guns that detectives carry also shoot blank bullets as their first shot. Guns can be used to threaten even violent criminals. Whether there are live bullets in the gun or not has nothing to do with threatening.”
At the decisive moment, I activated my experience as a detective.
The lawyer probably didn’t expect a rookie prosecutor to say something like that?
“Hmm.”
Kim Ji-ho takes a moment to catch his breath and then speaks.
“Anyway, there were fifteen cases of non-submission of firearms, and this is just one of them.”
I look at the lawyer.
yes?
As expected, you found it well.
“That’s right. Of course, it happens once a year or so, but let’s say it’s a very minor incident. But Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo, why did you keep the gun until the next morning?”
Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su seemed to have overcome his momentary confusion and spoke calmly.
“I did it because I was drunk. You know, that night······.”
“If you continue to give false testimony like that, you will receive a greater punishment, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
At my words, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su stopped talking. This was because he saw the small recorder I took out.
Click.
I turned on the recorder I was holding.
The voice of the Seven Bar owner comes out.
– But the three of them were drinking together like friends. That was a bit special. Moreover, as I said, the two executives hardly drank.
– Did you testify about that to the police?
– They didn’t ask any questions. The police just asked if there were three of them, what time they came, and if they went into the bathroom together.
Lee Hyun-soo’s face turns pale.
It seemed as if he felt that if he continued to testify, he would be charged with perjury.
He’s a shallower kid than I thought.
Click.
I turned off the recorder.
“This is the testimony of the owner of Seven Bar. Isn’t it strange? As I said earlier, the only person who drank at the drinking party that day was Sergeant Park Chung-deuk.”
Sigh.
I smiled and asked again.
“It was only Private Park Chung-deuk, the victim himself, who drank alcohol, right? But you forgot to return the important firearm that was taken out of the unit because you were drunk? And you even received a call from the soldier in charge of the firearm?”
Unlike the judge who nodded, attorney Kim Ji-ho squinted his eyes.
“Then is the culprit who killed Private Park Chung-deuk by threatening him with that pistol, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su?”
“I didn’t. I didn’t do that!”
The weak link, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su, was about to break.
It felt like it would break if I applied more force.
“Then, Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo. Think about it carefully. Why do you think someone would use someone else’s gun instead of their own to commit a crime?”
“That, that is… usually to blame the person… huh?”
Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su stopped talking.
Then he turns his head and looks at Lieutenant Han Ji-min.
It’s a look that asks why.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo, who had the gun that was taken out that night? Was it you? Or someone else?”
“Han, this is Lieutenant Han Ji-min. I don’t know why, but that day, she strangely asked to borrow my gun.”
“Did you just lend the soldier the gun called life? Perhaps you did it under duress because he was the first to take the lead, even though he was also a second lieutenant?”
Shows a hole to escape through.
Because rats have a habit of running towards that hole.
Lee Hyun-soo will hide in that hole.
“Yes, that’s right. Because soldiers must obey orders from their superiors.”
Finally, it broke.
The weakest link in this crime has been broken.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
I look up and look at the judge.
“A firearm was taken out and was found to be in the possession of Lieutenant Han Ji-min at the time of the incident. This seems to prove to some extent the criminal facts I initially stated, Your Honor.”
The judge, who had been thinking deeply, looked through the documents one by one.
Judges are definitely conservative people.
He closed his eyes behind his thick glasses for a moment.
“This court will be adjourned for 30 minutes due to a sudden change in the facts of the indictment and the submission of evidence by the prosecution. We will then resume the testimony of Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo.”
Land. Land.
So a 30-minute break was given.
I needed some time too.
While I was in court, I had to confirm one fact.
After the break, I went into the small room given to the inspector.
“Check to see if there is a leather belt among the civilian clothes that Private Han Ji-min kept when she was taken in.”
“All right.”
“If you happen to have a leather belt, request an emergency DNA test immediately as evidence in a murder case.”
Detective Kim Ji-cheol smiled.
“Of course I will, Inspector.”
dump.
Only then did I sit down on the soft chair in the prosecutor’s lounge.
I was tired because it was my first trial.
“Whew. I’m tired.”
“Well done. Who would call this the first trial? It was really exciting, Prosecutor.”
Kim Ji-cheol says that and hands me a can of coffee.
“Let’s definitely destroy those bad guys, Inspector.”
That’s what I thought.
Look forward to it, Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.
Because the real express train to hell starts now.
* * *
Lee Hyun-soo, who sat down in the witness stand after the break, looked more stable than before.
That’s too bad.
You’re saying that you were pushed into a corner and now you’re getting away with it?
Then I have no choice but to push harder.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
“yes.”
“Were you born with a silver spoon in your mouth when you were young?”
“Ah… no. I grew up in an ordinary family.”
“That’s right. I looked into it and found out that he was the eldest of two sons and one daughter… and his father only worked as a civil servant.”
“That… is so.”
“But I guess your family will be happy since you’re a military officer?”
Lee Hyun-soo squinted his eyes.
Something seemed offended.
“Objection. This question has nothing to do with the case.”
“I admit it. The prosecution should only ask questions that are necessary for the case.”
“Yes, your honor.”
The build-up has been completed.
Well then, shall we throw a jab?
Click.
Two photos of luxury foreign cars appear.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
“yes.”
“But how did Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo buy those two luxury foreign cars? I found out that he bought them both with a lump sum.”
“I don’t have a foreign car like that.”
“Oh. Is that so?”
“You’re a prosecutor, so shouldn’t you know?”
“Is it okay for you to say that? I understand. Before you lie, I will stop you from perjury again, Mr. Lee Hyun-soo.”
Lee Hyun-soo’s eyes wavered slightly.
Male.
Male.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyeon-su.”
“yes.”
“I heard you have a girlfriend. Her name is… Let me see… I’m sure there’s a copy of her resident registration on the documents….”
I deliberately flip through the documents.
What are you doing? Lee Hyun-soo!
You better answer quickly before they reveal your girlfriend’s personal information in court, right?
Hyunsoo Lee confessed to having a girlfriend while feeling embarrassed.
“Yes, there is. But why?”
“I see. Your girlfriend is an elementary school teacher. Her father passed away five years ago, right?”
“What are you talking about now?”
“My girlfriend is a really nice person. She spends most of her small teacher salary on supporting her single mother and younger sibling.”
As Lee Hyun-soo’s voice grows louder, his pupils begin to shake.
You can call me cruel.
But the crime you committed is not something that can be overlooked.
Your girlfriend who will benefit from your money won’t be free either, right?
The lawyer, of course, applied the brakes.
“Objection. The prosecution is now again shaking the witness with questions unrelated to the case!”
“No. It’s relevant, so I’ll ask.”
I said firmly.
The judge said nothing and just looked behind his thick glasses.
“He bought two foreign cars under his girlfriend’s name. One is his, and the other is not his girlfriend’s······.”
I turn my head and look at a lieutenant.
“I saw Lieutenant Han Ji-min riding around. That’s really strange.”
Click.
A credit card statement showing the purchase of luxury handbags and clothes from a department store appeared on the screen.
“Even so, my girlfriend spent an average of over 8 million won a month on shopping.”
I squinted my eyes and asked the witness.
“Second Lieutenant Lee Hyun-soo, you are not only an accomplice, but you are also acting as a puppet for a second lieutenant. Should I call your girlfriend in and ask her directly about the source of this money? Or will you testify here yourself?”
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