On the morning of August 11, Zhou Yi called Fang Zhen, Director of the Provincial Procuratorate's Anti-Dereliction Bureau, from his office and expressed his grave concern over the case involving Yan Li's alleged use of torture to extract a confession.
The same point still stood: everyone in the Public Security Department now knew Yan Li was his man. If he failed to take a stand, who would follow him in the future?
The case was especially lacking in crucial evidence. Two other criminal investigators besides Yan Li had taken part in questioning Song Tianlin. One of them, Wang Shuo, had turned against him for some unknown reason and given testimony damaging to Yan Li.
But the other criminal police officer, Zhang Qinfen, had consistently denied any use of torture during Song Tianlin's interrogation after being summoned. He had even cursed Wang Shuo for spouting nonsense and framing an innocent man, saying he had no conscience whatsoever!
Under these circumstances, Deputy Department Director Zhou had legitimate grounds to take the matter up with Anti-Dereliction Bureau Director Fang Zhen.
"Director Fang, more than twelve hours have passed since Yan Li was summoned for questioning by the Anti-Dereliction Bureau. I want to know the outcome of his interrogation!"
Under the Criminal Procedure Law, questioning following a summons could not exceed twelve hours, and that limit had long since passed.
"Well, Director Zhou, this case is rather complicated. We still need some time on our end!" Fang Zhen tactfully indicated that the questioning had produced no results yet, so Yan Li could not be released. Not only that, they might take the further step of detaining him.
Zhou Yi understood at once. The other side was determined to classify the case as major and complex, stretching the interrogation to the full twenty-four hours while