Chapter 480: Crime of huge amount of property with unknown source
Chapter 481 Crime of Huge Assets of Unknown Origin
Mara glanced at the expression of the crown prince, then glanced at the investigation report in his hand, and immediately said:
"Your Highness, please give me some time. If they really have embezzled, I will definitely find out!"
Joseph's brows were still not relaxed after hearing this.
He believed that with Marat's "perseverance" spirit, he would sooner or later find out the handles of those officials - he even found evidence of the corruption of the Governor of Poitou - but it would take too long.
If the officials who dared to oppose the abolition of the tax farmer system could not be deterred in the shortest time, more people would follow suit and join the ranks of those who were singing against themselves for money.
After all, no matter how "collapsed" the postal system was, it would only be chaotic for a month at most, so it was necessary to cut the Gordian knot and convict all these 40 people.
For a moment, Joseph's mind flashed the idea of asking the Intelligence Bureau to fabricate evidence for these people.
However, he immediately rejected this idea. Once this precedent is set, it will cause endless harm in the future. Maybe one day the intelligence department will be able to fabricate evidence to pin the crime on the royal family.
It is better to follow the recognized political rules to avoid serious side effects.
Joseph subconsciously flipped through the investigation report in his hand and suddenly noticed that it said that the total assets of an official in a southern province were 50,000 francs, and his position was just a judicial assistant in the city hall. The monthly salary should not exceed 60 francs, and there was no title of fief in the family, and obviously there was no industry.
In other words, if this guy did not have improper income, he would have to work for 70 years without eating or drinking to save up this family fortune.
And he took office 9 years ago, and Montauban, where he served, was still a very poor province.
Joseph turned to the next page.
This is the municipal commissioner of Poitiers, with an assets of more than 120,000 francs. He does have a manor at home, but it can only produce about 2,500 francs a year. This manor was bought by his father 17 years ago, and it is far from contributing this huge fortune to him.
The situation of more than a dozen people in succession was similar. They all had a lot of wealth, but they didn't have any property that could make so much money.
Joseph couldn't help but narrow his eyes. The report was all the information that the investigators could find in a short time, so the official's actual assets should be more than this number.
A word immediately emerged in his mind - the crime of huge assets of unknown origin.
Although it was not realistic to make this crime into a law in the 18th century, and the legislative process was too time-consuming, it did not prevent the concept from being used in investigating the evidence of officials.
You know, the Fair Investigation Office has the right to interrogate. And Marat has never liked bureaucrats. As long as there is a handle, he will definitely not be soft in the trial.
Joseph immediately smiled and looked at Marat: "Mr. Marat, have you heard of the 'crime of huge assets of unknown origin'?"
"Ah?"
...
Poitiers City.
In an office of the Notary Investigation Bureau, Municipal Commissioner Baron Caston glared at the two black-clad investigators in front of him angrily, clenched his fist and said:
"You dare to summon me without any evidence! I will definitely accuse you to Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Please...please don't be nervous." Desmoulins looked at him calmly, "I...we are just chatting with...with you. As for...accusation, that...that is your right."
The Investigation Bureau has been very busy recently, and as the second-in-command of the bureau, he also has to personally participate in the interrogation work.
He probably felt that his speaking efficiency was too low, so he winked at the assistant beside him and stepped aside.
The latter immediately took out a document and said to Baron Caston in a deep voice: "Your property exceeds 120,000 francs, right?"
"What does this have to do with you?!"
Desmoulins' assistant seemed to be talking to himself:
"You have served as assistant to the financial officer and trade commissioner before, and were promoted to municipal commissioner four years ago. We have calculated that all your salaries over the years add up to 7,820 francs."
Caston said disdainfully: "So what?"
"Since the purchase of your manor, the total income should be 37,000 francs. You rented out your property in the east of the city, and the rent has totaled 4,000 francs over the years. You have written articles for "Life and Salon", and the total royalties are..."
"..."
"Your wife and children have no income. Your wife brought a dowry of 2,000 francs that year. Do you think I missed anything?"
Caston just sneered, as if he was too lazy to pay attention to him.
"So your total income since you were born is 51,000 francs." Desmoulins' assistant read the information mechanically, "and your family's living expenses, including the purchase of the property you live in now, daily food and clothing, club expenses, and... at least 18,000 francs.
"That is to say, your assets should be 33,000 francs. And the property under your name exceeds 120,000 francs."
He suddenly leaned close to Caster, his nose almost touching the latter's face:
"So, where did the extra 87,000 francs come from?"
"Extra...extra?" Caster was immediately stunned by the question, because he had never heard of such an interrogation.
He became a little nervous: "It's...the inheritance my father left me."
"You are lying! Your inheritance tax totaled 720 livres, which means that you inherited less than 10,000 livres. "
"Oh, I remember, I invested in my friend's business and got dividends. "
"Okay, what's his name, where does he live, and what business does he do?"
"..."Caston couldn't make up a story, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "I am rich, so what? Those were all given to me by friends who admire me!"
Desmoulins on the side suddenly smiled: "Who gave you the money?"
"It's none of your business!"
"Of course it's my business." Desmoulins said loudly, "Giving money to an official for no reason, this is bribery!"
Caston was interrogated for two days and two nights. Then, Desmoulins applied to the High Court for an extension of two days. Joseph had already instructed the court through the Royal Supreme Court, so all such applications were quickly approved.
Although Caston was a nobleman, the Jacobin investigators disliked nobles the most, so except for not beating him directly, they used all means such as intimidation and not letting him sleep.
Finally, on the afternoon of the second day, Caston couldn't stand it anymore and began to confess the process of corruption.
Many movies and TV dramas show criminals with strong psychological qualities who always deny their crimes when being interrogated. But in reality, most people can't even last half a day in an interrogation room before their psychological defenses collapse.
Especially when Desmoulins was obsessed with the question of "source of property", Caston couldn't fool him.
At the same time, similar situations were happening all over France. The investigators of the Notarial Investigation Bureau reaped a great harvest.
