Chapter 70: Interrogating Tian Guanghan!

At the same time Yang Dong was being interrogated.

In a secret hotel designated by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, inside room 109.

Liu Shan, Lu Yike, and Jiang Hu sat facing Tian Guanghan.

"Tian Guanghan, please explain the office equipment procurement on June 2, 2006. You and the finance division requested one million yuan for this purchase."

"However, according to our findings, the market value of the office equipment at that time was far below one million yuan."

“Five printers, five fax machines, twenty desk phones, twenty-six office desk sets, fifteen office chairs, three boxes of teacups, five hundred sets of file folders and document bags, fifty boxes of pens and stationery, and fifty boxes of A4 paper, 200 sheets per box.”

“Based on the records provided by the municipal office’s archives department and the market prices at that time—even the most expensive printer in Lingyun’s market was only six thousand yuan per unit, fax machines eight thousand, desk phones five hundred, the rest of the furniture nowhere near those prices.”

“Yet after finalizing the payments, the invoices issued by your office showed a total expense of 1,236,000 yuan, with an additional 236,000 yuan claimed from the finance division.”

“Our assessment of the value is 280,000 yuan. Can you explain where the nearly one million yuan in excess expenditure went? Where did the money go?”

Liu Shan scrutinized the files in his hand, then fixed his gaze on Tian Guanghan, his tone heavy as he interrogated him.

Lu Yike and Jiang Hu remained silent but stared coldly at Tian Guanghan.

They were racing against time, vying for speed.

Whoever gained the advantage first would control the situation and seize the initiative.

Yang Dong was surely being interrogated by the municipal prosecutor’s office at this very moment; they needed to accelerate their efforts as well.

If the prosecutor’s office found a breakthrough, not only would Yang Dong be in danger, but subsequent matters would become much more difficult to handle.

“I’m aware of that procurement. Though nominally I was responsible, it was actually handled by the finance division chief at the time—I’m unclear about the specific process.”

“You can ask the finance chief from back then.”

Tian Guanghan’s attitude was cooperative; he sat upright on the bed, responding to Liu Shan’s questions.

His manner left nothing to criticize.

Even the discipline commission cadres questioning him, like Liu Shan, couldn’t press him too hard.

Tian Guanghan was not easily dealt with. He had climbed step by step from the municipal office to become deputy secretary-general and deputy director—an old hand at this game.

Aside from being petty and vengeful, he had few other flaws.

But Liu Shan was also a veteran, director of the case review office, a deputy division-level cadre, with more than a decade of experience at the commission.

“We’ve already questioned the finance division chief from that time. According to his statement, you designated the procurement locations for this batch of equipment!”

“Dingxin Communications, Caipiao Cultural & Office Supermarket, Jinhui General Supplies—these are the three locations you specified for procurement!”

“Our commission’s staff have questioned all three vendors and reviewed their accounts from that year.”

Tian Guanghan’s expression remained unchanged; he sat calmly as ever.

But Liu Shan still caught a flicker of wariness and anxiety deep in his eyes.

He continued, “All three vendors admitted the procurement prices at the time weren’t inflated.”

“Yet the final payment was more than three times the actual price.”

“How do you explain this, Comrade Tian Guanghan?” Liu Shan’s tone turned cold as he pressed harder, amplifying the pressure.

Tian Guanghan was silent for a moment, then looked up at Liu Shan with a faint smile. “The city government urgently needed those supplies for the Provincial Sports Mobilization Conference.”

“The 12th Provincial Games were held at our Lingyun City Stadium.”

“This was a major event for Lingyun. To present ourselves well before the athletes, coaches, and people of the province, the city government made very thorough preparations.”

“But office supplies were in short supply, and the higher-ups were urging us. So I contacted those three vendors.”

“They told me they didn’t have enough stock and that to deliver quickly and secure the order, we’d have to pay more.”

“I reported this to Secretary-General Yin Tiejun at the time, who approved it. I was just executing his instructions.”

“Is there a problem with that?”

With these words, Tian Guanghan shifted the blame to Yin Tiejun, pouring all the dirty water onto his superior.

That was the advantage of being the deputy secretary-general or deputy director—when trouble arose, you could defer to the top leader.

Yin Tiejun had agreed at the time, so why ask me? Go ask Yin Tiejun.

Liu Shan frowned, further impressed by Tian Guanghan’s cunning.

But Tian had found a legitimate excuse—pushing responsibility onto the first-in-command was a safe bet.

However...

“But Comrade Tian Guanghan, you were the organizer, you designated the three vendors, you filed the procurement request, and you signed off on the payments.”

“All three vendors stated the prices were tripled, and you approved these inflated prices.”

“I don’t believe that even with a supply shortage, you would pay three times the market price.”

“And if those three stores didn’t have enough, weren’t there other stores in the city? If not, what about vendors in other districts or counties? Why not buy from them?”

“Comrade Tian Guanghan, your explanation doesn’t hold up!”

“Please come clean!”

“There’s a gap of 950,000 yuan—where did it go?”

“Moreover, according to the account records we obtained from the Industrial and Construction Banks, your wife and your brother received sums ranging from 150,000 to 180,000 yuan in their accounts between July and September of 2006.”

“Your wife is an elementary school teacher, your brother works at a printing factory—how did they receive such large sums?”

“Furthermore, the finance chief at the time said he questioned this payment, but under your threats he didn’t dare speak up.”

“In July, this finance chief’s bank account also mysteriously received 20,000 yuan.”

“How do you explain this, Comrade Tian Guanghan?”

Liu Shan fired off questions like a barrage, pressing Tian Guanghan relentlessly.

At this point, Tian Guanghan was no longer as composed as before; his smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression. He began to fidget, and sweat occasionally beaded on his forehead.

Yet it wasn’t warm—outside, the temperature was still below minus ten degrees.

And the central heating had been dialed down.

Why, then, was he sweating?

“I... I don’t know. All I can say is there was nothing wrong with the procurement!” Tian Guanghan shook his head, sticking to his story.

“Then what about the money in your wife’s and brother’s accounts?” Liu Shan pressed on, giving him no respite.

“My wife likes to trade stocks, my brother too—they made money in the market!”

“But the transfers to their accounts came from the three vendors. How do you explain that?”

Bang!

Liu Shan slammed the table.

“Comrade Tian Guanghan, you need to tell the truth!”

Cold sweat streamed down Tian Guanghan’s face; his body trembled despite his efforts to control it, his complexion growing pale.

Physiological responses in moments of panic are hard to suppress—his body shook uncontrollably.

“Leader, let me bring him a glass of water,” Lu Yike, who hadn’t spoken until now, suddenly stood up, poured a paper cup of water, and walked over to Tian Guanghan.

Under the watchful eyes of Liu Shan and Jiang Hu.

A faint smile flickered across Tian Guanghan’s face, his nerves settling slightly.

“Thank you, comrade.”

Lu Yike bent down, handed him the cup, then, in a swift low whisper, said, “December 12th last year, Caiyun KTV, hostess Xiao Nana died, customer Tian Yuan.”

“You’re welcome,” Lu Yike replied with a smile, then turned and walked back.

Clatter!

Stunned, Tian Guanghan stared at her back. The cup slipped from his hand, soaking his trousers, but he didn’t notice.

His mind went blank; golden sparks danced before his eyes.

His son, Tian Yuan...

How did she know?