You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 377

You Have Been Defended – Episode 377 (377/641)

I knew that Heo Min-woo was on the narcotics investigation team through the investigation of Park Jin-sung.

But I never expected him to show up here.

Wasn’t this a gathering of Park Jin-sung’s family to clear the name of Park Jin-sung, who had become a suspect?

But it was strange to see the police, who made Park Jin-sung a suspect, here to help Park Jin-sung.

Of course, he could pretend that he was coming to this house for the investigation, but it would be a disaster if others found out.

“You seem very surprised. Did I appear too suddenly?”

Heo Min-woo smiled at me and Kang Min-jae.

During the investigation, Heo Min-woo was polite, but he didn’t seem to believe in Park Jin-sung’s innocence.

Rather, he denied all the evidence Park Jin-sung presented and cornered Park Jin-sung with the data prepared by the police.

“I did that during the investigation because people were watching, but I have serious doubts about this case. That’s why I came at Prosecutor Jung’s request.”

He had doubts.

If I knew Heo Min-woo’s character, it was understandable.

He was recognized for his abilities and rose to the rank of Inspector from a police officer at a young age, but he always had a rebellious spirit in his heart.

Before cases were handed over to the prosecution, he uncovered hidden truths in many cases.

But even he couldn’t handle cases that were pressured by ‘higher-ups’ like this.

No matter how hard Heo Min-woo tried, once he handed the case over to the prosecution, there was little he could do.

That’s why he started working with us.

That’s how Heo Min-woo was in his previous life.

I don’t know what Heo Min-woo is like now.

“What doubts did you have that made the detective in charge come to a place where the suspect’s family and lawyer are present?”

When I asked, Heo Min-woo smiled awkwardly.

“There was enough evidence that Park Jin-sung was transporting drugs. But the first thing I doubted was when the drug test came back negative. Usually, people who transport drugs use drugs. And the second thing.”

Heo Min-woo paused and looked at me.

“As the lawyer said in the investigation, it was strange that Park Jin-sung was not properly captured on public CCTV [closed-circuit television]. That’s not to say that I firmly believe that he went to Real Motors as Park Jin-sung said. But if there was an accident on the road, it would have been recorded on the road CCTV, and Park Jin-sung’s car wasn’t half-destroyed, so he would have just driven to the repair shop alone. But even if you search all the public CCTV, there is no video of him going to the repair shop at all.”

I’m glad I appealed that point in the investigation.

Of course, I thought that Heo Min-woo would have caught it even if I hadn’t appealed.

“Even if it’s not Real Motors, Park Jin-sung’s car is now repaired, so he must have gone to a repair shop somewhere. No matter how much I track it, there is no sign of him entering a repair shop. Of course, there is no scene of him going to Real Motors either……”

“So you thought someone might have deleted the evidence?”

At my question, Heo Min-woo nodded deeply.

“It’s a cautious statement, but I vaguely know that this is a time when someone is likely to corner the Chief Prosecutor. So I thought that this case might be a carefully planned scheme to corner Park Jin-sung.”

I didn’t think Heo Min-woo wouldn’t know about the situation Park Young-ki was in now.

It would have been strange.

Park Jin-sung had too clean a past to be caught as a drug dealer.

“I know it’s hard to believe that the detective in charge is saying this, but this is my sincere heart. I have encountered many suspicious cases so far. My gut tells me so. This case was created by someone. That’s why I came here after receiving a call from Prosecutor Jung.”

“Inspector, you are the detective in charge. Shouldn’t you be investigating more neutrally than anyone else?”

At my words, Kang Min-jae grabbed my arm, looked at me, and smiled strangely.

“Do you have to talk to someone who came to help you like that?”

He clenched his teeth very tightly.

“Are you suspecting that Inspector Heo Min-woo came under orders?”

That’s not it.

The letters floating in his head were consistently [Truth].

But I don’t want him to participate in what I’m doing.

If he wants to help us, I hope it will be done from his position as he sees fit.

Not wanting to get involved is like that.

“I understand what you’re saying. Inspector Heo Min-woo, you think the public CCTV was tampered with? To slander Park Jin-sung.”

“If it wasn’t to slander Park Jin-sung, who would tamper with public CCTV? It’s something that can’t be done without an order from a superior. And what can move that superior is……”

“It’s only Wooshin.”

Park Young-ki said definitively.

He seemed to want to actively receive Heo Min-woo’s help.

Why wouldn’t he?

His proud eldest son became a drug dealer in jail overnight, and if even one more person could help, there would be no reason to refuse.

“Lawyer Cha, don’t you trust me?”

“……”

“Even so, I understand. I would have had a hard time believing it myself. But I am also the detective in charge. I haven’t assumed that Park Jin-sung is the culprit. I just want to catch the real culprit, whether it’s Park Jin-sung or anyone else.”

“That’s right, Lawyer. Anyway, Inspector Heo wants to catch the real culprit, and we think the real culprit is not Park Jin-sung. For now, our goals are the same.”

“If Park Jin-sung turns out to be the culprit, I will hand Park Jin-sung over to the prosecution. That’s why I came here. Even though I know it can be dangerous to go to a place where the suspect’s family and lawyer are gathered.”

Heo Min-woo tried to persuade me.

Park Young-ki also nodded, making eye contact as if he understood why I was doing this.

“Besides, this morning, an arrest warrant was issued for Park Jin-sung. If you want to proceed with the warrant review, you need as much information as possible.”

Park Jin-sung’s arrest warrant was finally issued.

Of course, I thought it would happen and was thinking about how to proceed with the warrant review, but I didn’t feel good.

“Heo Min-woo is a trustworthy person. Lawyer Cha, don’t be too wary.”

In front of Park Young-ki, who was desperate for help, I couldn’t tell Heo Min-woo to back off because I would take care of everything.

I have no choice but to proceed while excluding him as much as possible.

Everyone thinks of Heo Min-woo as a relief pitcher, but it wouldn’t look good if I was the only one saying, ‘I don’t think so?’

Park Young-ki would also be frustrated…….

“Then, knowing that there are no objections, I will share the new facts we learned today.”

Kang Min-jae opened his mouth.

“We believe that Real Motors is definitely lying. First of all, it was a lie from the beginning that they only accept cash from Park Jin-sung. When we went, they said that there was no place that didn’t accept cards. I think they lied to avoid leaving a record of Park Jin-sung’s payment.”

“I said the same thing during the witness investigation. Who only accepts cash these days?”

Heo Min-woo added.

Kang Min-jae nodded, making eye contact with Heo Min-woo, and then continued.

“And secondly, it’s also a lie that the taxi driver who caused the first accident said he didn’t know Real Motors at all. Today, when we stopped by Real Motors, the taxi driver appeared at Real Motors. Lawyer, show the video.”

I put my phone on the table and played the video.

It was a scene where the taxi driver was having a conversation with the mechanic that seemed quite friendly.

Heo Min-woo looked surprised, and so did Park Young-ki.

“Judging from the conversation between these two, it seemed like they were trying to hide somewhere. They asked if they had packed their luggage, and when we pretended to leave and watched, we confirmed that the two were heading somewhere in one car. They had already appeared as witnesses and testified, so it seemed like they were trying to hide.”

“Did you confirm where these people were going?”

When Heo Min-woo asked, Kang Min-jae nodded.

“We have informants attached to our side.”

“That’s a relief. It’s definitely strange. It seems like evidence that Park Jin-sung’s statement is credible.”

“So I’m thinking of using it in the warrant review.”

“If someone we’re thinking of is moving the case, it will be difficult to avoid detention with this much evidence.”

Heo Min-woo said worriedly, crossing his arms.

Park Young-ki closed his eyes and leaned back on the backrest.

Even if he knew that his son was likely to be arrested, hearing it from the detective in charge would be a different level of shock.

I, who had been silent, opened my mouth.

“This time, we’ll ask you. As you said in the investigation, you confirmed that Park Jin-sung’s vehicle was carrying drugs out of the warehouse near Incheon Port.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I learned this while working on a joint investigation in the past, but I heard that many of the drugs distributed domestically are released from the port under the tacit approval of customs officers.”

“That’s right. They’re almost professional brokers.”

“To unravel the tangled thread, we need to know who put the drugs in Park Jin-sung’s vehicle and who helped them. If there are any customs officers you are investigating who are likely to be involved, please share them with us.”

At my words, Heo Min-woo took out his phone and started checking his notes.

“If it’s Incheon Port, there’s someone we’re watching, hoping to catch them just once.”

“Who is it?”

“Kim Ki-cheol, he’s the team leader now. We’ve raided him a few times, but we’ve failed, so Kim Ki-cheol is probably nervous. He must have realized that he’s a target.”

“Was Kim Ki-cheol in the CCTV footage taken at the warehouse near Incheon Port this time?”

“There was someone who seemed like Kim Ki-cheol. His build was similar. The person suspected of being Kim Ki-cheol was covering his face with a mask and hat, and he moved while changing cars, so we couldn’t arrest him. Park Jin-sung was arrested because he kept moving in his own car.”

There was one more person suspected.

If we catch Kim Ki-cheol or someone who moved with Kim Ki-cheol, it would be a good result.

“There was someone on Kim Ki-cheol’s team who reported to us. He gave us information every time. I was already suspicious of Kim Ki-cheol, so I was going to meet him……”

“Can we accompany you?”

“Yes. We’re scheduled to meet at Incheon Port tomorrow evening. Let’s go together then.”

“What’s his name?”

“Jeong Yong-man.”

If Jeong Yong-man repeatedly stabbed Kim Ki-cheol to the police even though he was on the same team, he either has feelings for Kim Ki-cheol or has a personality that can’t stand injustice.

He’ll probably give us information.

If a team member gives information about Kim Ki-cheol and we can investigate Kim Ki-cheol, it won’t be difficult to find traces that he received money or instructions from Wooshin after that.

Because we can also search and seize.

As I thought that, I suddenly raised my head and met Heo Min-woo’s eyes.

“If you meet that person tomorrow, things will go well. Don’t worry too much, Chief Prosecutor.”

Heo Min-woo said that and smiled at Park Young-ki.