Binjiang Police Affairs

Chapter 1473: Chapter 258: A Matter of Life and Death! (Part 3)

The Binjiang Waters is the busiest waterway for Changhang transportation, with more than three thousand ships of various sizes passing through each day.

The Maritime Bureau organized a search and rescue operation, notifying passing ships to watch for anything on the river surface, yet none were found from Binjiang to the East Sea throughout the southern and deputy channels. While there weren’t many ships in the North Branch Channel, the width of the river there is narrow enough that if a body surfaced, it would likely be seen.

Han Yu realized that they couldn’t easily assume the crew member who fell overboard was dead, and solemnly said, "There’s a possibility of four scenarios."

"What four possibilities?" Yu Xiangqian asked.

"One, the person is not dead, but hiding onshore pretending to be dead to provoke us, the police, into severely punishing the suspect who might have pushed him overboard. Two, the person is dead, but the body has not floated into the sea and became entangled in water plants or reeds on the bank instead. This is the season when water plants and reeds are at their thickest, making it very difficult to spot in such a case."

"Continue."

"Three, the person is dead, and the body floated up but was shredded by a passing ship’s propeller. In such a case, it wouldn’t just be hard to find; it would be nearly impossible."

"What’s the last possibility?"

"That is if it drifted into the sea, but compared to the previous three, the likelihood is the lowest."

"How do you plan to investigate this?"

"First, organize manpower, mobilize the public, and simultaneously request assistance from the Marine, Fishery Administration, Water Administration, and the Changhang Guzhou Branch across the river, as well as support from the Shuzhou Police Bureau Water Police Station and East Sea counterparts. Conduct a search along the shorelines on both sides to see if the body is in the shallow water’s weeds or reeds."

Han Yu looked at Jiang Youwei, and continued, "At the same time, ask for assistance from the maritime authorities to issue a call for clues, specifically publishing a body search announcement, asking ships of all sizes passing through the accident waterway during the relevant period to check their propellers. Also organize police forces to investigate the social connections of the crew member who fell into the water, especially to find their relatives, pay attention to the reaction of their friends and family, and analyze if there is a possibility that they are not drowned but hiding."

Facts proved, the young man is reliable and thorough in his work.

Yu Xiangqian felt very relieved, paused for a moment, and said, "This is a large workload, especially searching the downstream shallow banks of the Binjiang section and East Sea section, requiring many boats and significant police force deployment."

Han Yu took a deep breath and clenched his fists, saying, "A human life is at stake, and this does not just concern determining the death of the crew member, but can also affect whether the soon-to-be-arrested suspect lives or dies. However many boats we deploy and manpower we invest, it is necessary."

This was right on target!

If the crew member hasn’t died, the emerging suspect was only guilty of deliberate injury.

If they categorically determine the crew member is dead, it transforms the case, and it would then go to the Procuratorate to be prosecuted as intentional homicide.

In other words, if the crew member hadn’t died, but the court still sentenced and executed the suspect, it would be a wrongful execution because the suspect’s crime was not deserving of death.

Yu Xiangqian appreciated Han Yu’s cautious attitude in this matter and laughed, "It’s not easy to search the north and south shores, and if you include the North Branch, it’s actually a major search covering at least five hundred kilometers of coastline. To others, this seems like an impossible task, but for you, it’s not very difficult, it’s completely attainable."

"Director Yu, it’s not easy for me either, I need to request help from many units."

"At least you can manage it, if it were me, I wouldn’t. If it were Mayor Chen, he would also only consider it but not act, proving you’re truly the ’Binjiang Water Army Commander!’"

"Director Yu, please stop praising me. The network I have on the river isn’t my own, it’s left to me by my mentor, you, and Director Zhang. Without your help, I wouldn’t become the Binjiang Water Army Commander. This foundation was built by you guys, and I’m just reaping what you sowed. I wouldn’t dare to claim the achievements as my own."

Yu Xiangqian laughed heartily, "You’re becoming more like Director Han, much more capable in conversation! Even though you’re flattering me, it feels nice to hear. Salted Fish, in this aspect, you’re stronger than your mentor. Come clean, did Old Ge from Linghai teach you these tricks?"

Birds of a feather flock together; people are influenced by their surroundings.

Han Yu also felt that he had been influenced significantly by Old Ge in the past two years, learning a lot about dealing with people, and couldn’t help smiling, "Director Yu, stop teasing me, I am busy organizing a major criminal case, I’ll hang up now!"

Han Yu hung up just like that.

Listening to the beeping on the phone, Yu Xiangqian laughed and cursed, "He actually hung up on me. I just praised you for learning how to behave, but it turns out you’re still forward-looking when you need someone, and forget them when you don’t!"

It’s truly rare for someone to dare to hang up on Mayor Yu’s call, making the driver and secretary chuckle.

Yu Xiangqian put down the phone and looked up, "What are you laughing about? You’ve met Salted Fish, and he doesn’t even give face to the General L. Isn’t it normal he hangs up my call?"

"General L?" Secretary Yang couldn’t help but ask.

"The current General L was Vice President during the flood. While inspecting disaster areas and guiding flood control, he listened to Salted Fish’s report. Salted Fish was busy commanding the rescue, and after barely three sentences, he asked if he could leave. The General L just watched him walk away without saying anything."