Too Bad I Take Things Seriously

Chapter 885: Chapter 341: Abandoned Property and Lost Property

Fishing is considered a recreational activity.

It is completely different from the act of fishing for profit.

The relevant laws and regulations do not categorize fishing as illegal fishing of aquatic products.

Of course.

During the closed fishing season.

Within the designated prohibited fishing areas, there are often additional regulations on whether fishing is permitted.

As long as fishing is not done during the closed season and does not catch a large number of fish, fishing is basically unrestricted.

Outdoor waterways...

Are mostly open to fishing.

But again.

A lot of anglers go fishing in the wild and return empty-handed each time.

If they want to violate these laws and regulations...

It would be quite difficult.

In contrast, those who fish illegally never return empty-handed, catching large amounts each time.

This causes significant damage to the aquatic resources of the local natural waterways.

"Alright, come with us, back to the station to make a record."

In the end.

The police officer waved his hand, signaling Qi Lianglei and the seven others to follow them to the car.

At the same time, they confiscated all the "tools of the crime" and "proceeds of the crime" from them.

"Officer, wait, what you said just now... the natural waterway aquatic resources we caught aren’t from the Jin River, they are released by others."

Qi Lianglei’s survival instinct kicked in frantically, his brain working rapidly.

He finally came up with an excuse.

The police officer explained it very clearly earlier.

As long as the fish he caught weren’t from natural waterways, it doesn’t count as breaking the law.

"Released by others?"

The few police officers were taken aback.

Qi Lianglei nodded repeatedly and pointed to Li Weiguo next to him, saying: "It’s him, he released the fish, and we happened to be playing downstream, saw these fish floating on the water surface, and then we caught them."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Li Weiguo, who was standing beside him, blushed and couldn’t help but curse: "You’re talking nonsense!"

What nonsense is floating on the water surface.

He was clearly here to accumulate good karma.

The fish he released were carefully selected early in the morning from the market.

Each one lively and jumping.

But the words from Qi Lianglei’s mouth...

Changed their meaning.

He was here to release them, not dispose of corpses!

"Wait, you mean... these fish belong to this elderly man?"

The police officer felt a headache coming on.

He glanced down at the few buckets of fish that had been confiscated.

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Now...

They couldn’t catch them.

If the fish weren’t wild resources, then what they did didn’t constitute a crime.

Because...

The illegal fishing of aquatic products harms wild aquatic resources and the original ecological chain environment.

If the fish Qi Lianglei and the seven others caught weren’t wild, then it didn’t amount to destruction.

"Yes, yes, yes, it’s the old man’s, he kept stopping us earlier, saying these fish were his."

Seeing this, several people next to Qi Lianglei echoed: "Officer, please see clearly, we never caught wild fish from the Jin River."

"We can swear to the heavens, all these fish belong to the old man!"

"He released them, and we saw the fish were half-dead, so we caught a few. That shouldn’t be illegal, right?"

"We just have these few nets, how else could we catch so many wild fish?"

Seven people surrounded the police officer, continuously arguing.

The penal code explained by the police officer just now...

Really scared them.

If they were really taken away, things would be troublesome if sentenced.

Weighing both sides.

They simply explained the truth.

Anyway, the fish weren’t wild, were just "picked up" by them in the river.

"If the fish are really his, then indeed it’s not illegal."

A few police officers thought for a moment, then nodded.

Then, they placed down the confiscated "crime tools" and "crime proceeds."

Looking again at Qin Mu.

Somewhat displeased, they said: "Mr. Qin, you’re not being fair, these fish are yours, yet you made such a fuss calling the police. Isn’t this a waste of our police resources?"

They were very familiar with Qin Mu.

Qin Mu couldn’t not know that the actions of Qi Lianglei and the seven others didn’t constitute illegal fishing of aquatic products.

This made it clear...

They had come for nothing.

And Qin Mu chuckled dryly, quickly saying: "It won’t be for nothing. Since they just admitted the fish are ours, we should be able to take them back now, right?"

The police officer nodded.

Just about to speak.

Qi Lianglei and a few others next to him shouted: "Why?"

"You’ve released the fish, why can’t we catch them?"

"Even though the fish are yours, you discarded them, and after we caught them, we have to return them to you?"

"That’s like you throwing away your garbage, and after we pick it up, you can demand it back?"

"No return!"

"No way will it be returned!"

Upon realizing they were safe again.

The attitude of Qi Lianglei and the seven others turned arrogant once more.

The police couldn’t do anything about them.

They simply tore off their pretenses, firmly refusing to return the fish.

For the sake of catching these fish.

They worked diligently in the river for half an hour, how could they return empty-handed?

"You see that."

Qin Mu looked at the police officer, helplessly spreading his hands.

Actually.

He didn’t originally want to make a big deal out of it.

It was just a matter of a few fish.

But Qi Lianglei and the others were simply too outrageous.

Intercepting others’ karma halfway...

And refusing to return them even after being caught, their attitude was extremely arrogant.

"This..."

A few police officers chuckled bitterly, immediately feeling that the situation was becoming tricky.

Originally.

This matter was a criminal case, and they could have directly taken people away.

But now it has turned into a civil dispute, requiring mediation and resolution.

Then.

They took the initiative to step forward.

To communicate with Qi Lianglei’s group of seven: "How about everyone takes a step back, they won’t take the fish, you just release these fish back into the Jin River, how about that?"

But Qi Lianglei’s group of seven directly turned their noses up, showing a strong unwillingness to compromise.

Completely disrespecting them.

Qi Lianglei even hinted subtly: "Officer, it’s not that we don’t want to compromise, but we’ve spent so much time in the river, surely we’ve earned something even if not much? Unless they give us 1000 yuan, then we’ll release the fish back!"

"You’re dreaming!"

Li Weiguo nearby was incensed, shaking with rage.

He almost fainted.

The value of the fish he released was worth several thousand.

These people took his fish and yet want to sell them to him...

This is absurd!

"Sorry, then."

Qi Lianglei sneered, lifted his bucket and prepared to leave the scene.

A few police officers saw this and did not stop him.

After all...

The ownership of released fish is too ambiguous, strictly speaking, they no longer belong to Li Weiguo.

Qi Lianglei and others catching these fish is unethical but not illegal.

They did not directly snatch the fish from Li Weiguo.

"Wait!"

At this moment.

Qin Mu once again intercepted them, still unwilling to let them go.

"What else do you want?"

Qi Lianglei’s face darkened, his expression increasingly impatient.

Qin Mu had repeatedly caused him trouble, even brought the police, and now wouldn’t let them leave.

"Since it’s certain these fish are ours, it’s easy to handle."

Qin Mu smiled slightly.

Then continued: "According to the ’Property Law’, regarding the disposal of lost items, if someone finds lost items, drifting objects, or stray animals, they must return them to the owner without compensation and cannot keep them for themselves."

"The ownership of these fish still belongs to us, you must return them after finding them."

"Otherwise... it constitutes the illegal occupation of other’s property, which is an offense of occupying property!"

In front of the police.

He put forward a new charge again.

"Who are you trying to scare?"

Qi Lianglei was indifferent, curled his lips.

But the police nearby...

Showed a somewhat strange smile.

Obviously.

Qin Mu, to ensure they "don’t leave empty-handed," found them something to work on.

Indeed.

As long as the ownership of fish can be proven as theirs, if the other party refuses to return it, it constitutes the offense of occupying property!

In general situations, it incurs imprisonment, detention, or control for up to two years!

However...

One of the officers looked at Qin Mu, frowned, and said: "These fish were released, strictly speaking, they should be considered abandoned, right?"

The ’Property Law’ article Qin Mu recited earlier refers to lost objects.

There’s a big difference between the two.

Abandoned objects refer to the original owner voluntarily giving up ownership, discarding them, belonging to unclaimed objects.

According to property law.

Minerals, water flows, forests, mountains, grasslands, wastelands, tidal flats and other natural resources, all cultural relics, cultural sites, ancient tombs, cliff temples within the country’s territory, and all buried, hidden objects with unknown owners belong to the state.

Other than the above-mentioned, all unclaimed objects are acquired according to the principle of first-come, first-served.

Whoever occupies first...

Belongs to who owns it.

Just like these fish, once released, they are considered abandoned.

This implies Li Weiguo voluntarily gave up his ownership.

Picked up by Qi Lianglei and others, they belong to them.

The ownership has changed.

"Who says these are abandoned items?"

Qin Mu blinked and pointed at Li Weiguo, saying: "The elderly in our courtyard just bought some fish today and planned to change the water by the river. Unexpectedly, all the fish escaped, clearly belonging to lost items."

Li Weiguo was momentarily stunned.

Soon understood, quickly said: "Yes, that’s right, today I wasn’t actually here for releasing them, just changing some water. But being too old, lacking strength, all the fish escaped into the river..."

Although not sure why Qin Mu emphasized this point.

He cooperated immediately.

Police: "..."

"According to ’Property Law’ concerning lost items, any forgotten, lost, or drifting item is not unclaimed, they only temporarily leave the control of their owner or caretaker."

Qin Mu smiled and continued to emphasize.

In fact.

This time, wanting Qi Lianglei’s group of seven to return the fish is quite challenging.

Released fish are voluntarily abandoned ownership.

Li Weiguo no longer has ownership.

Therefore.

The only option is to call them lost items.

As long as he refuses to admit his act as releasing, then these fish are "accidentally escaped".

The ownership remains with Li Weiguo.

If these people don’t return them...

It solidly constitutes the offense of occupying, requiring them to bear the appropriate criminal liability!

And the decision to release or not.

All hinges on Li Weiguo’s "moment of thought."

Following that.

Qin Mu looked at the officers, displaying a very helpless expression: "Officer, you’ve seen it, I’ve emphasized it so much, yet they still refuse to return the fish..."

The officer took a deep breath, stared at Qi Lianglei and his group of seven.

In a deep voice: "You might as well return the fish, otherwise... it might really constitute the offense of occupying."

Once clearly refusing to return.

They would have to arrest them.

If they continue to muddle through, they themselves might...

Even be in some danger.