Re-Investigation

The Investigation Division of the Beika Police Station's Criminal Affairs Division is naturally responsible for frontline investigations.

At the Beika Police Station, there are only a little over ten "Investigation Divisions" in total. Apart from the First Division, which is the administrative division, the following nine divisions do not specifically divide cases. In short, they all handle "violent crimes." Following the divisions responsible for violent crimes, there are also the "Intellectual Crimes Division" and the "Theft Crimes Division."

Compared to the Metropolitan Police Department, the Violent Crimes Units at police stations are few and not further subdivided. Unlike the Metropolitan Police Department, where just the First Investigation Division has ten units specifically responsible for "murder cases" within "violent crimes," robbery and fire cases are counted separately.

At police stations, "Division" is habitually referred to as "Unit" because each unit at a police station has only four to six people, generally a mix of "experienced officers mentoring new ones." The staffing is also less than that of the Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division.

Of course, this is just the Beika Police Station... Not only do small police stations not have this many detectives, but the ratio of detectives at the Beika Police Station is also high even when compared to larger police stations.

Each unit can be responsible for different cases when busy, or for different investigation directions when facing a major case.

After Shiraishi had a general understanding of the case, he gave Shirai some face-saving opportunity—using the chance to reprimand all the other departments before letting them leave...

A reprimand was still necessary; this way, they could also slightly improve their [Principles] by one or two points.

Although having too high [Principles] can also cause problems, the current situation for everyone is generally that [Principles] are not high enough...

Now Shiraishi has called over Units 2, 3, and 4. These three units are generally responsible for heinous crimes. Among them, the Section Chief of Unit 4, Haitani, was the main force assisting Shirai in solving this case and was also the primary assistant during the interrogation phase.

The Section Chief of Unit 2 is Aoki, and the Section Chief of Unit 3 is Akasaka. They are usually referred to as the Aoki Unit and Akasaka Unit, respectively, and both are considered elite detective units within the station.

Clearly, Shiraishi is going to clean up Shirai's mess!

The police officers of the Haitani Unit are undoubtedly the most nervous at this moment.

They brought the case's retained files, including photos of various pieces of evidence, and written transcripts of the specific interrogations.

Later, in the conference room, Shiraishi, while looking at the documents in his hand, had squad leader Haitani explain the PPT—Haitani is not young anymore, but unlike typical detectives, he is not unkempt. At the same time... he gives off a somewhat smooth impression.

The police officers from the Aoki and Akasaka Units also know that they will be taking over the case later, so they are listening attentively.

Squad leader Akasaka is a middle-aged man with a flattop hairstyle. Besides him and his partner, Tosaka, who is also a middle-aged man, the Akasaka Unit includes Gen and Yamada—this is also a "problematic unit" personally appointed by the old Chief. They are very driven but a bit rash, and... they are the main culprits for traffic violations with official vehicles!

Indeed, in Shiraishi's opinion, all members of the Akasaka Unit have excessively high [Passion]...

Section Chief Aoki has a completely different style. He wears glasses, his hair is meticulously combed, and he looks younger. He usually strives to maintain his elite image, his business suits are very formal, and he even looks somewhat like a businessman!

Whenever Aoki and his partner Matsuki walk together, they look like a dignitary and his secretary. Additionally, the young police officers in the Aoki Unit are Makita Miwa and Suzuki Atsushi—Makita Miwa is also the only female police officer in the Criminal Affairs Division.

Overall, the Aoki Unit is the "good boy group," the opposite of the Akasaka Unit.

(Makita Miwa and Suzuki Atsushi also come from The Counterattack of Female Police Officers. I will manually add illustrations later. The two section chiefs and their partners have real-life inspirations, but they are mainly original characters. For the sake of easier reading, most of the protagonist's subordinates will use "colored surnames," and the partners of the two section chiefs will also have a character in their surname that is the same as their surname, serving as an identifier.)

Shiraishi has now thoroughly reviewed the detailed process of the case's investigation...

And discovered the problems with this case!

Haitani did not forget to summarize the culprit at the end: "The current public opinion pressure can basically confirm that it was that detestable lawyer's doing! Kensuke Komikado is best at using public opinion pressure and external factors to interfere with judicial proceedings!"

Haitani's ability is not bad; overall, he ranks among the top in the Criminal Affairs Division. Compared to the passionate Akasaka, he appears more refined in demeanor, and compared to the elite Aoki, he has a slightly mischievous feel.

However, regarding his current summary that avoids the main issues...

"Komikado... I've heard of him. He is indeed a greedy jackal, but... this jackal doesn't usually like to take on criminal cases, especially violent ones. What attracted the jackal this time is precisely this investigation result, full of loopholes and even emitting a foul odor!" Shiraishi said, slamming the case summary in his hand onto the table.

Haitani immediately stood at attention and fell silent...

After all, this case has many loopholes!

The most compelling evidence is the fingerprints on the kitchen knife. However, this is a kitchen knife from the victim's home. The victim often invited colleagues to his home for hot pot before his death. It is normal for Tsubokura, as a junior colleague, to use the kitchen knife to help cut ingredients. This is also confirmed by the testimony of other colleagues—however, it is true that only the murder weapon kitchen knife has Tsubokura's fingerprints. He claimed to have used other kitchen knives as well, but there were no fingerprints on them!

Coupled with the indirect evidence such as the so-called "motive"...

When the defendant directly overturned the previous "confession" and accused them of coercive interrogation, the situation indeed became unfavorable.

Especially now, Shirai's implication of the witness has also been brought up by the opposing lawyer, who accused him of neglecting normal evidence and simultaneously launched a public opinion offensive...

"In the end, you think because the suspect has no money and could only find a court-appointed lawyer, you handled this so carelessly?" Shiraishi said bluntly.

"Chief, we..." Haitani was about to explain.

Shirai spoke up from the side: "Then what should we do? Just sit back and let the criminal go free?"

"Jo Shirai! I didn't say it directly just now because I thought you were older! If you had known from the beginning that the lawyer would be a difficult opponent, would you have submitted this kind of evidence for examination? Do you only have 'improper investigation' and 'letting the criminal go' as options? If you only think about making these either-or choices every day, then take off your badge right now!

"And your interrogation... Since the surveillance camera conveniently malfunctioned, I don't need to ask whether the coercion was true. I'll just ask you... is this the interrogation result you're proud of? Did the suspect's confession include any important supplementary details? Did it provide any strong evidence? Is this your so-called ability?"

Shiraishi reprimanded him directly, and Shirai's spirit deflated...

That's right, using some interrogation techniques to get a confession... Shiraishi wasn't unable to understand this. Of course, some methods are a bottom line and definitely cannot be used. More importantly...

"Confession" itself is not the goal. If they just say "I did it," it's meaningless!

If the suspect could reveal some "important details," such as details only the culprit would know, and then verify them, preferably with matching physical evidence, then it could be considered important evidence.

However, Shiraishi carefully reviewed the confession...

There were no such "important details." On the contrary...

"And details like wearing a white shirt while committing the crime and falling down on the road out of nervousness... These details that cannot be matched with evidence, how can they not be seen as proof of 'fabricated testimony'? Didn't you, an old police officer, notice these?" Shiraishi said angrily.

When people lie, they instinctively fabricate useless details. Shiraishi, who is proficient in psychology, naturally saw the problem at a glance—whether the case was committed by the suspect, Shiraishi couldn't be sure, but...

Shiraishi was certain that at the time of the "confession," the defendant did not genuinely intend to admit guilt.

Even setting aside the procedural violations, this is definitely not Shirai's true ability. In the end, he is under too much stress, so he's resorting to desperate measures!

What made Shiraishi angriest was...

It seems the [Principle] of the Haitani Unit's police officers is also declining!

If Shirai keeps leading them like this, the young police officers will be ruined too...

"All members of the Haitani Unit are suspended starting today for self-reflection. Submit written self-criticism for all misconduct during the investigation!

"Akasaka, Aoki, you are responsible for restarting the case investigation. The Akasaka Unit will re-examine the case progress under the premise that 'Tsubokura is not the true culprit,' while the Aoki Unit will supplement the criminal evidence investigation under the premise that 'the true culprit Tsubokura is cunning and deceitful.' Submit your preliminary investigation ideas to me before 2 PM...

"The case has been sent back for retrial. The suspect's Lawyer is quite skilled, and the situation is very unfavorable for us. Please work hard until the Court Session resumes on Friday."

Shiraishi directly assigned the tasks, then glanced at Shirai and added: "Furthermore, starting today, all inspection reports for criminal cases must be personally signed and approved by me... Meeting adjourned!"