The Prosecution wishes to add one more thing, after re-reading the defence's argument. The Prosecution would just like to point out that not running from the charges or trying to avoid them is not a valid defence for any crime, and would that the Prosecution would have prosecuted the defendant whether they left the region or remained in the region. This case is also not about what the defendant did after he broke the law, it is about the fact that the defendant broke the law.
"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
First, I would like to clarify my argument and position regarding the defendant's actions and the allegations that have been brought forth the defendant. Do I think that committing voter fraud is right? No. Do I think that people who engage in such activity should be punished? Yes. Do I believe Vahva is a bad citizen? No. Do I believe there is a double standard in this region? Absolutely. The things that I have said toward Cosmo and Daniel are pure connections between the allegations brought forth the defendant and the behavior of other citizens in this region who have behaved in the same manner. Were they meant to be a direct attack towards the individuals? Absolutely not. If these people were offended, that was not the intention, nor should they continue to harp upon what was said. There is a clear double standard in this region. The defendant has said things that are off color and offensive, but so have many other people in this region. Probably 99% of this region's citizens have engaged in such behavior. Whether it is argument baiting, homophobic statements, or general hostility towards others, the things that the defendant has said are rather innocent as compared to some of the other people in this region. The prosecution is trying to paint the defense's argument as malignant and insulting to the rule of law in this region, but this is not true and is quite insulting to the defense. Again, Vahva's actions towards other players is nothing but the stupid comments that plague our discord, spewed from every user that resides in this region. His crimes towards the region (voter fraud) are a crime, but with intentions to benefit, yes benefit this region. Am I trying to paint voter fraud as a good thing? No. However, when someone breaks the law you must look beyond what is written and look towards their intentions. The defendant could have easily used this second account to further benefit himself, but he didn't. When he was confronted by the law, he confessed like a good citizen should. He did not flee, did not argue, did not lie, he confessed. He knew what he did was wrong and stood by it. The defense no longer wishes to argue with prosecution over petty actions, arguments, and rhetoric that takes place on both sides, it wastes our time, the court's time, and the region's time. Instead, the defense asks the court to look at this double standard. It effects this region greatly and is something that should be discussed. The prosecution's evidence and rhetoric toward the defendant is outrageous, how many negative things do people say in the discord? Too many to count. Vahva is a victim of this standard.
Post by Courelli in TVF on Jul 20, 2018 21:00:51 GMT
20 July, 2018
In the matter of:
THE VERSUTIAN FEDERATION, represented by VALTURUS in their capacity as Minister of Domestic Affairs, Prosecution
v.
VAHVA,a Citizen, Defendant
Sentencing
CENTRAL COURELLI, Presiding
The Court notes that the Defendant Vahva has pled Guilty to a charge of Fraud, in this case for creating and maintaining two Citizen nations, and in the course of doing so, impersonating a former Citizen of The Versutian Federation in an attempt to conceal his own identity. Furthermore, the Defendant used both of these accounts to vote on the Civil Trial Procedure Amendment.
No one in this case contends that the Defendant is innocent of the charges against him -- the Defendant's guilt is without question, even from the Defendant's own admission.
The Defense unconvincingly argues that, while election and identity fraud is bad, the Court should "look beyond what is written [in law] and look towards their intentions," and further states that "the Defendant could have easily used this second account to further benefit himself, but he didn't." The Court contends that, in subverting the fundamental principle of "one man, one vote," the Defendant acts solely out of self interest. This self-interest further manifests itself in the Defendant's admission, in which the Defendant admits that he actively broke the law to circumvent a potential ban from the region and regional infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Defense's assertion that the Defendant, in the act of committing voter and identity fraud, is simply "a nation who cares for his region" who "believes that the amendments that are currently up to vote are important and require the populace to interact with their region’s political system." The Court finds this notion patently ridiculous. It is the opinion of the Court that a nation who truly cares for his region and supports interaction with his region's political system would find a way to promote their values within the confines of that political system which they claim to support.
In closing, the Court would like to remind all parties of the words of Minister of Justice Alamei in the case Asairia v. Cosmosplosion.
Electoral fraud threatens not only regional security and autonomy, but our core democratic principles.
IT IS ORDERED that the Defendant and all accounts named in this case to be under the Defendant's control be banned from The Versutian Federation and all offsite properties for no less than 8 months beginning on this date.
IT IS FURTHER ORDEREDthat the Defendant's fraudulent vote on the Civil Trial Procedure Amendment be struck from the record, by means of deletion of the forum account named "Xenozeks," after which the results of voting are to be considered firm without need for a second vote on the matter.
This concludes the Court's business in this case.
THE REPUBLIC OF COURELLI IN TVF nobilitatis virtus non stemma character
Admiral of the Huey P. Newton Squadron of The Red Fleet Incumbent Speaker, Former Deputy Speaker of the Versutian Federation Former Delegate of the Social Liberal Union