Chapter 1024: Investigating from the Source

In the next two days, several teams from the Criminal Investigation Team focused on investigating the mining operation’s situation, as well as the interpersonal relationships and financial situations of a few security personnel, indeed uncovering some findings.

In the office, Lu Chuan was reviewing the police’s investigation results from the past two days.

First, the situation of the mine.

The mining operation over the past two years had not been as good as expected, even reaching the brink of loss.

Sun Biao had already gone to the bank to check the mine’s financial transactions, discovering that the mines had been tight on funds over the past two years, especially in the second half of this year, with very little working capital. From the current investigation results, the mine’s working capital was over 11 million, which meant that after Zhang Dabao withdrew 10 million, the mine’s working capital was actually only over 1 million now.

Moreover, Sun Biao’s investigation revealed another situation. According to some information clues given by the bank, it seemed Zhang Dabao was contemplating selling the coal mine.

Sun Biao, sitting opposite to Lu Chuan, also spoke of some speculations.

“But the people at the mine don’t know about this. Zhang Baobao has been very secretive. The mine has earned him quite a bit over the past two years, and now that it’s nearing a loss, Zhang Dabao apparently wants to resolve this cycle and take the money and run away.”

Chen Jiang continued, “Typical capitalist.”

“You can’t really say that. People who do business obviously want to make money. Since the mine is starting to lose money, it’s understandable to dispose of it.”

Two days ago, Wang Zhaokai brought Zhang Dabao to the Criminal Investigation Team and gave him a scare.

Not being able to pay out wages and bonuses, and even having workers cause trouble at the Criminal Investigation Team, Wang Zhaokai schooled Zhang Dabao thoroughly.

The information from the bank displayed some aspects of the mine’s operations, but not much about the theft case.

“How’s the investigation on the cash transport situation on the day of the incident?”

This part of the work was Chen Jiang’s responsibility.

“It’s been completely investigated.”

Over the past two days, Chen Jiang has thoroughly investigated the cash transport situation.

“On that day, the ones who took out the cash were Zhang Dabao, the accountant, two security personnel, and four workers from the mine.”

Chen Jiang, together with Sun Biao, went to the bank to retrieve the surveillance from that day, so the situation at the time was clear.

“Since it was a large cash withdrawal, Zhang Dabao notified the bank a week before withdrawing 10 million. Of course, these matters were all handled by the mine’s accounting.”

“But since the amount was indeed quite large, having only the accountant with the company seal wasn’t enough; the legal person needed to be present to sign to withdraw this amount, so Zhang Dabao also went to the bank that day.”

Chen Jiang took out some photos and handed them to Lu Chuan.

“These are bits of information captured by the surveillance inside the bank and at the bank entrance.”

At that time, it was Zhang Dabao and the company’s accountant handling the transaction, but when withdrawing the cash, it was two security personnel and four workers helping move the cash since it was quite heavy.

“Did these four people help inside the office building as well?”

Lu Chuan was concerned whether these four workers who were called to help saw the money being placed inside the office building, specifically the metal chest in the room where the incident happened.

If they saw it, it would indicate no swapping occurred.

If they didn’t see it, then there might be an issue.

Chen Jiang shook his head and confidently said, “No.”

“These four people mainly helped at the bank. After moving the money onto the van, they took another vehicle back to the mine.”

Chen Jiang continued, “People at the mine knew the cash had been taken back solely from the mouths of these four people.”

“I have already asked these four people in detail about the process of withdrawing money that day. After they returned by other vehicles, they never saw the cash again.”

“And the van carrying the cash, after entering through the gate, went directly to the office building, where two security personnel unloaded the chest.”

Chen Jiang investigated the entire cash transport chain, so he retrieved all the available surveillance footage where the cash appeared that day.

“The iron box at the crime scene was not originally there, but was unloaded from the van.”

“This is the footage captured at the office building entrance at that time.”

When Chen Jiang came to report, he brought a laptop.

“Is there something wrong with the video?”

Knowing that Chen Jiang only brought this one piece of footage, Lu Chuan understood there must be an issue with it; otherwise, Chen Jiang wouldn’t have brought it specifically.

“We’ve watched this video many times beneath and studied it a bit; I feel there is a slight issue with it.”

Upon opening the video, Lu Chuan carefully observed and noticed that after the van stopped at the entrance, it was the two security personnel who opened the trunk and then lifted out the metal box.

In the video, the two chatted and laughed as they carried the box inside the building.

Chen Jiang quickly said, “We feel there is something off in the process of these two carrying the box.”

Lu Chuan frowned and asked, “Do you mean… too easy?”

“Exactly,” Wang Zhaokai interjected, “It’s just too easy; the box should be very heavy with 10 million inside for two to carry.”

“But when these two were carrying it, they appeared to be chatting and laughing as though carrying something insignificant; it’s not normal.”

A single hundred-yuan note weighs about 1.15 grams, meaning 10 million in cash would weigh 115 kilograms, or 230 pounds.

The fact is, with 230 pounds in a large iron box, for two people to carry it up the steps and still ease into laughter is indeed not normal.

Sun Biao also mentioned, “Moreover, if there really were something inside, when these two were carrying it, their arms should at least show some signs of strain, but we observed in the video that not only did they carry it easily, but they also seemingly didn’t exert much strength.”

“And there is another peculiar point.”

“Where’s the accountant? The accountant has vanished.”

Indeed, throughout the surveillance, only the two security personnel were seen carrying the box from the car and entering the building, but no accountant personnel were visible.

“According to what Zhang Dabao mentioned during the report, it was the accountant who put the cash in the cabinet and locked the room; the keys were also with the accounting section. If the accountant was responsible for securing the items, why weren’t they seen when the cash was being moved?”

Chen Jiang added, “They barely handled it and left it to the two security personnel, simply letting them carry it in. Zhang Dabao wasn’t there, and neither was the accounting team at the scene, leaving no one supervising. There has to be a problem here.”