billion book
Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Christian complained, “With that whole line of bullsh*t answers and he needs to wait until after lunch to reach a verdict? I bet Russell could decide faster.”
Annie glared at her husband and said in a stem, hushed tone, “Tone down, Christian.”
The Duke’s temperament cooled to a point where a small smile graced his features as he lifted one of Annie’s hands to plant a kiss on it. Then, he whispered, “As you wish, my Duchess.”
Lucianne’s eyes shone when she whispered to Xandar like an excited child, “Look at them, they’re so cute. It’s like getting a front row seat to a romantic movie.”
Her body subconsciously leaned into her mate’s, and her adorable demeanor was so irresistible that it made Xandar crave to hold her in his arms. So, he lifted her off her seat, and Lucianne gasped in shock. Xandar then placed her sideways on his lap before guiding her body to lean against his chest. 1
Instead of leaning in, Lucianne parted their bodies with a hand on his chest, over his beating heart. His feisty little freesia then looked at him with stem eyes as she demanded in a low voice, “Put me down, my King.”
Xandar pouted, “But why? I like you here.”
“I like being here, too. But this is not the place, Xandar. Put me down.” She hissed. Her peripheral vision noticed the stares from everyone around them. Some were hiding smiles; some were leaning towards their own partner at the sight; some were rolling their eyes, and others were purely jealous. But everyone wondered whether they were allowed to take a picture.
Xandar didn’t seem bothered by Lucianne’s demand. If anything, she only looked more adorable with those flustered cheeks that gave away her embarrassment. His smile was broad and radiant when heNôvelDrama.Org content rights.
nuzzled her nose before pecking a light kiss on her forehead and said, “You’re so cute when you’re shy.”
“I won’t be very cute when I beat you up for holding me here, darling.” Lucianne warned.
Christian was secretly hoping to see her spar his cousin again. Just then, Annie mind-linked her mate, and they betted against each other to see whether it would be Xandar or Lucianne who would ultimately give in. Christian betted on his cousin to cave in and put Lucianne down, whereas Annie betted on Lucianne to surrender and let Xandar continue to hold her. So, all that was left to do was watch.
Xandar chuckled lightly, and leaned in to feel the warmth on Lucianne’s cheeks with his nose as he uttered, “You’re right, you don’t look cute when you beat me.” He locked eyes with her and declared, “When you beat me up, you look flawlessly astounding and perfectly amazing, my love.”
Lucianne narrowed her eyes and asked in suspicion, “Are you trying to make me give in by saying that, Xandar?”
“Is it working?” Xandar asked with twinkling eyes.
“No! Put me down!” Lucianne tried to crawl out herself but Xandar held her even tighter and buried his head in her neck before whispering into her ear, “Just let me, baby? Just this once? Let me hold you like this in public just this once?”
Lucianne’s agitation reduced, and she sighed in defeat. When Xandar’s face left her neck, moving to the top of her head to smell her hair, she leaned into his chest and indulged in the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat. As Xandar held her in his arms, he became blind to everyone around them. Her presence made him feel happy, complete and peaceful.
“I think I won. Come on, my love. Pay up.” Annie taunted her husband.
Christian took out his wallet in dissatisfaction as he locked eyes with the confused Lucianne and grumbled, “My Queen, I rooted for you. How could you just let Xandar win like that? You could very well
beat him up! Did you know I was so sure you’d win that I put i n two hundred dollars for this?”
Lucianne’s mouth gaped open when Xandar chuckled as they witnessed the Duke handing a few dollar notes to his Duchess, who seemed happier with winning the bet than with getting her husband’s money. Annie’s demeanor of triumphant joy tugged at her husband’s heartstrings, and Christian beamed as he pecked a kiss on her temple.
When Lucianne’s phone on the table beeped, everyone saw the reminder to return to the courtroom. The cousins groaned in annoyance while the two ladies exchanged cheeky smirks when Xandar was forced to release Lucianne from his embrace.
They strode back together, and didn’t know about a man amongst the cafeteria crowd watching them. As usual, the man scribbled something in his small notebook and checked the resolution of the pictures he had taken from afar.
What was unusual for him was not knowing that another man disguised as a janitor with only one good eye, and who’s bad eye was masked by contact lens, was observing him with great interest.
Judge Cook gave a firm nod for everyone to be seated. He then cleared his throat and began, “During the recess, prior to my reaching of a verdict, the accused persons, Patrick Dupont and Pierre Whitlaw have pleaded guilty to the offenses charged. Alfred Cummings submitted the same plea after I’ve reached the verdict, hence, on legal principle, his plea will NOT be taken into account.”
“Corruption charges are criminal in nature, hence I can only sentence the accused persons according to our laws if it is beyond reasonable doubt that they committed the crimes alleged with the intention to commit it. In other words, the commission must be by their own free will.”
*All four accused persons have argued that they’d been ‘coerced by the Duke, Greg Claw to illegally transfer funds to their personal bank accounts, with a small percentage being sent to Wu Bi Corporation, whose owner remains unknown due to lack of evidence. Even so, there is evidence stating that the said
Duke received some form of payment, though this amount is significantly less compared to the accused persons.”
“The coercion argument would have been believable if the money remained in the ministers’ respective accounts. It would also have been believable if the said Duke received an amount equal to the ministers. However, this is clearly not so.”
“Seeing that the accused persons spent on personal pleasure and for the enjoyment of their family members, I do not find their argument on coercion anywhere near credible or believable. Needless to say, their assertions without evidentiary support is fatal to their case, especially when the prosecution has provided ample evidence to prove its case against them.”
“I opine that any claims stating that they had been unaware of the lofty sum they received in no way clears their names since it is
in the millions when one’s annual salary is nowhere near the amount. The prosecution has taken pains to quantify the total savings of each minister if they had not spent a single cent, and that amount is still far from the value of assets they acquired throughout the years.”
“The frozen assets of all four accused persons shall be seized, thereafter transferred to the government, who may apply for an order for sale to make up for the stolen funds. These assets include, but are not limited to, landed properties, movable properties, savings and shares of any kind. Should the stolen funds be traced to another individual, that individual is obliged to surrender the assets acquired using these funds.”
“Although the maximum sentencing relating to corruption is only a twenty-year imprisonment term along with a fine, an act of corruption in the service of The Crown is a term of eighty years, a fine double the value of what was stolen and five strokes of the whip daily in the course of imprisonment. I gather no one
requires me to state the obvious fact that the fine, unfortunately, cannot b e fully recovered in this case, and the justice system can only give its best to the government to recover as much as it possibly can.” 3
“On with the sentencing of each accused person. Marie Martin, for corruption, aiding and abetting in an act of treason and fabrication of false evidence by producing audits that were inauthentic, taking into account her plea of guilt: seventy-five years in prison, a fine of double of the stolen value, and five strokes of the whip daily for the whole duration of imprisonment.”
“Patrick Dupont, for corruption and aiding and abetting in an act of treason, taking into account his plea of guilt, seventy years in prison, a fine of double of the stolen value, and five strokes of the whip daily for the whole duration of imprisonment.”
“Pierre Whitlaw, for corruption and aiding and abetting in an act of treason, taking into account his plea of guilt, seventy years in prison, a fine of double of the stolen value, and five strokes of the whip daily for the whole duration of imprisonment.”
“Lastly, Alfred Cummings, for corruption, aiding and abetting in an act of treason, attempted obstruction of justice by asking a witness to commit perjury, without a plea of guilt, eighty years in prison, a fine of double of the stolen value, and five strokes of the whip daily for the whole duration of imprisonment. Seeing that Alfred Cummings is the only one who did not plead as the others have, the route to appeal against my decision hereafter shall be open only to him. Those who have pleaded guilty are barred by law from appealing.”
“I hold all four accused persons guilty of the offenses charged by the prosecution, and order that their sentences be carried out as I have prescribed with immediate effect. That is my decision.”