Chapter 61 – Dinner – WordExcerpt
Sehun repeated his question, pointing out the witness’s mistake. His voice was low but gentle. The witness glanced at the defense attorney and hesitated before finally saying, “Director Jeong said there was such an article, and I heard it when we were both smoking in the conference room together. The director said that if you violate it, the director and auditor are responsible for damages.”
“By Director Jeong, are you referring to the defendant?”
“Yes.”
“When did you have this conversation with him?”
“It was around early this year… not long after the new year.”
“It was around the same time that the defendant incurred the huge damages on the corporation. Even if they are an officer, it’s uncommon to rant and talk about the articles and paragraphs of the Commercial Act unless in specific circumstances. Maybe they would but in a summarized fashion. Normally, corporate counsel or people involved in litigation talk about it. Do you think that the defendant had something that pricked his conscience?” As soon as Sehun finished his spiel, the defense lawyer stood up.
“I have an objection. My friend is asking the witness to speculate.”
The judge gave Sehun a stern look. “Objection accepted. Counsel, please only examine the witness on facts.”
Sehun nodded and continued his cross-examination. “All right, please look here. This recording will prove that this is a fact.”
A senior lawyer who worked under Sehun opened a screen. It was surveillance footage of the conference room of the company. The footage was recorded with the consent of all the officers who attended that meeting, but it seemed that an employee accidentally recorded their break as well.
After clearly showing that the defendant was visibly anxious while talking about the Commercial Act, Sehun returned to the witness stand. “You entered the company at the same time as the defendant. It was just the two of you. At the time, the country encountered a foreign exchange crisis, so it was a difficult time for everyone. After preparing furiously during this difficult time, you probably put in your blood, sweat, and tears into your work for the sake of your company. That is how you could sit in your position today.
“You’re correct.”
“However, you and the defendant have the same position, yet your salaries are different. You have twice the salary, correct?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
“After working so hard, only his colleague got a pay raise while his pay was frozen. What if this was all due to academic background instead of work performance? Naturally, the human psyche would lead to intentionally neglecting…”
“I have an objection!” Before Sehun finished, the defense attorney objected.
Sehun narrowed his eyes and stared at the other party. “I haven’t finished yet.”
“Cross-examine with closed questions! The court isn’t where you speculate.”
“I was examining based on material facts. It’s a fact that the two officer’s salaries are different and that the defendant neglected their duties, leading to millions of dollars in damages to the corporation which resulted in this lawsuit! What am I speculating? I’m curious to know.”
The two lawyers seemed to start a dispute, so the judge stopped them immediately. An indescribably uncomfortable ambiance hung in the air.
Yoonshin watched every moment of the trial unfold and slowly started to realize that the frigid atmosphere that Sehun created was so he could push an emotional narrative.
This case was simply a matter between two parties of unequal power balance, so Sehun didn’t need to shake the weakness of the defendant in their face. That was probably why he called it a simple hearing. However, the narrative was that the defendant was angered, so they intentionally caused harm to the company for their differential treatment; Sehun was trying to emotionally stimulate the judiciary and the audience and make them come to one conclusion.
It initially seemed like the defendant was pitiful in getting differential treatment. However, after starting this career, Yoonshin learned that the world didn’t run that way.