sjar Chapter 1028 Interrogation of Zhao Gang, the Truth Revealed
Chapter 1028 Interrogation of Zhao Gang, the Truth Revealed
Sitting in the interrogation chair, Zhou Jianguo nodded: "Yes, it was Lao Li. Zhao Gang somehow found out that Lao Li would withdraw 20,000 yuan in cash every month, so he asked me to keep an eye on his schedule and his family situation. At first, I just thought he wanted to steal money, but I didn't expect..." He covered his face with his hands and burst into tears.
"Go on!" Li Ming tapped the table.
“On September 8th, I told Zhao Gang in advance that Lao Li would go to the bank to withdraw money in the afternoon. Zhao Gang told me to prepare the tools for the crime and said he would find a car. That night, I was on duty at the factory when Zhao Gang drove up in that white van. He asked me to bring him some bleach from the factory warehouse, saying it would be easier to clean the car if it got dirty.” Zhou Jianguo recalled, his body trembling. “I was a little scared at the time, and I felt that something was wrong, but I had taken his money and didn’t dare to disobey him.”
"And then what? How did you commit the crime?"
“Around 8 p.m., Zhao Gang was waiting for Lao Li on his way home in his car. When Lao Li walked into a secluded alley, Zhao Gang rushed over and beat him with an iron bar he had prepared beforehand. Lao Li resisted fiercely and shouted for help, but Zhao Gang kept beating him until he stopped moving…” Zhou Jianguo’s voice trailed off. “Then Zhao Gang dragged Lao Li’s body into the car and asked me to help clean up the scene. My mind went blank at the time, and I only knew to do as he said.”
How was the body disposed of?
“Zhao Gang said he wanted to dump the body somewhere deserted, so we drove to a wasteland in the south of the city. After he dumped the body there, he made me use bleach to clean the bloodstains off the car. We also threw the murder weapons into the river.” Zhou Jianguo wiped away his tears. “I thought that would be the end of it, but every night when I sleep, I dream about Lao Li’s face. I’m really going crazy!”
"How was that money divided?" Xiao Wang continued to press.
“Zhao Gang gave me 50,000 yuan, saying he would use the rest to pay off his gambling debts. I hid the money under the cabinet at home and didn’t dare spend a single penny.” Zhou Jianguo raised his head, his eyes filled with remorse. “Officer, I was wrong. I’m sorry to Lao Li. I’m willing to accept the punishment of the law!”
After the interrogation, Zhou Jianguo was taken away.
A moment later, the iron door to the interrogation room slammed shut with a jarring sound. Zhao Gang was brought into the room, his hands cuffed to the interrogation chair. His face still bore the marks of the resistance he had sustained during his arrest, yet his eyes remained fierce, filled with resentment and defiance. Li Ming and Xiao Wang, their expressions serious and their gazes piercing, stared intently at the vicious criminal before them; a fierce psychological battle was about to unfold.
“Zhao Gang, stop resisting. Zhou Jianguo has already told you everything.” Li Ming broke the silence first, his voice deep and powerful, each word like a heavy hammer blow to Zhao Gang. He placed Zhou Jianguo’s interrogation records and related evidence photos on the table one by one. “If you confess now, you can still try to get a lighter sentence.”
Zhao Gang smirked and curled his lip in disdain: "Hmph, that coward, I knew he couldn't be relied on. Let him say what he wants, I've already admitted defeat, but you think you can make me back down so easily!" He raised his head, his eyes filled with provocation.
"Then start by telling me why you targeted Li Baocun," Xiao Wang said coldly, his eyes revealing his disgust for the criminal.
Zhao Gang spat and began to confess: "I was drowning in gambling debts, and my creditors were chasing me for money every day, threatening to chop off my hands if I didn't pay. I was desperate and wanted to make a lot of money. I overheard someone say that Li Baocun withdraws 20,000 yuan in cash every month. Wasn't that a piece of meat delivered to my door? So I inquired about him everywhere, and later met Zhou Jianguo through a friend. That guy was also a gambler who had lost a lot of money. With a little coercion and enticement, he agreed to cooperate with me."
"Tell me in detail how you committed the crime." Li Ming took notes while keeping a close eye on Zhao Gang's expression.
“On September 8th, Zhou Jianguo told me that Li Baocun had withdrawn money that afternoon. I told him to prepare his tools and even got a used van, covering the license plate with tape. Around 9 p.m., I drove up and waited on Li Baocun's usual route home. When I saw him walking alone, I rushed at him with an iron bar. The old guy reacted quickly and tried to run, but I hit him on the head. He fell to the ground and struggled desperately, shouting for help. I was afraid of being discovered, so I kept hitting him until he stopped moving.” Zhao Gang spoke casually, as if recounting a trivial matter, but it sent chills down one's spine.
"And then? What happened to the body?" Xiao Wang pressed.
“I dragged his body into the car and found money and bank cards on him. I wanted to get the PINs, but he was already dead. So I asked Zhou Jianguo to help clean up the scene, and then we drove to the wasteland south of the city and dumped the body there. On the way back, we threw the murder weapon into the river and used bleach from the factory to clean the bloodstains on the car. I thought I had done everything perfectly, but I still got caught.” Zhao Gang’s face was full of regret and resentment.
"So how did you and Zhou Jianguo divide the spoils?"
"I gave him 50,000 yuan, and I used the rest to pay off some of my gambling debts. Who knew that before I could even enjoy the money, you guys arrested me." Zhao Gang lowered his head, the arrogance on his face gradually disappearing, replaced by despair and regret.
Li Ming carefully compared Zhao Gang's confession with Zhou Jianguo's and found that the two men's motives, the process of the crime, and the division of the spoils were completely consistent. Every detail corroborated the other, forming solid bricks that built ironclad evidence against them.
"Zhao Gang, what else do you have to say now?" Li Ming closed his notebook and asked seriously.
Zhao Gang shook his head weakly and said in a low voice, "I admit it. I'm sorry to Li Baocun and his family. I know I've committed heinous crimes and I'm willing to accept the punishment of the law."
The interrogation ended, and Zhao Gang was taken away. Li Ming and Xiao Wang watched his departing figure, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. The truth of the case had finally come to light, and justice had been served, but they knew that as police officers, protecting the peace of the people and fighting crime was a never-ending journey.
After Zhao Gang and Zhou Jianguo fully confessed to their crimes, Li Ming immediately convened the criminal investigation team to deploy an operation to recover the stolen money and goods. In the conference room of the criminal investigation detachment, the whiteboard was densely marked with key information from the two men's confessions: the address of the rented house where Zhao Gang hid the stolen money, the backyard of Zhou Jianguo's old home where he buried the money, and the section of the river where the tools used in the crime were discarded. Each clue was like a key to unlock a treasure, waiting for the police to dig it out.