Judge Rackham replied, "Permission granted."
After both suspects were brought in and seated at the witness' stand, Sean immediately asked, "Mr. Jonas. What was your relationship with the defendant?"
"I've worked directly under the defendant in Levine Ventures' foreign branch, in the capacity of sales manager."
"What about you, Mr. Stevenson?"
"I'm the head of PR for Levine Ventures' foreign branch, working directly under the defendant as well."
Sean then asked, "While you were both still working in said posts, has the defendant coerced either of you into illegal activities, such as manipulating futures and securities, or aiding criminal organizations with money laundering efforts?"
"Objection!" Toby Yorkman, the defense counsel, sprang to his feet, sounding agitated. "The prosecutor is leading the witness to make a questionable assertion."
"Objection sustained. Please watch your phrasing, Mr. Cranston," Judge Rackham snapped sternly.
"Yes, Your Honor," Sean replied respectfully.
While he wasn’t behaving like he was above the rest in court, he simply changed his question's wording. "Has either of you been involved in money laundering or market manipulation while working for Levine Ventures' foreign branch?"
"Yes," both of them confessed to it consecutively, holding nothing back.
"How much was the total sum of illegal revenue obtained?"
"3 billion dollars," both men replied, one after another.
"Thank you," Sean told them, and turned towards Judge Rackham. "This concludes the prosecution's presentation of evidence."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Life Debt Repaid novel (John and Cordy)