How is Craig Wright not in jail yet?
@Sosthene @verretor You'd think so. But the system just doesn't work like that.
Frankly I think both the civil and criminal legal systems end up with rules designed for the sake of generating work for lawyers, judges, and jailors more than getting results quickly. Particularly civil cases: a lot of problems could be solved with mechanisms to turn civil into criminal cases when fraud happens. But I think corporate law would be really, really, against that.
@Sosthene @verretor Having a clear distinction between civil and criminal law is much more beneficial to corporate/wealthy interests than it is individuals. As an individual without a lot of money, any interaction with the law can easily destroy your life. As a corporation, you really don't want your employees and corporate officers to have to risk jail to implement your plans.
@pete @verretor even in criminal cases I'd careful going on a trial. I remember a high-profile gang rape on a minor case a few years ago that made the headlines here in France, the rapists were sentenced to symbolic jail sentences, the worst one being 6 years or so. But the victim had to sit through years and years of trial being reminded that hell, being accused by the lawyers of being a mythomane that was consentant all along, she went half-crazy and made several suicidal attempts iirc.
@Sosthene @pete @verretor What Peter said.
People who've never been dragged into court before have this (perfectly natural) assumption that lying under oath is OMG scary because THEY WILL PUT YOU IN JAIL IF YOU DO IT.
Nope, not even close. your opposition will lie like crazy, in writing and verbally, without repercussions.
Perjury is an absolute joke. The only ones scared of it are honest people.
@BrianLockhart @Sosthene @verretor Yup. In my court case with Lovecruft, they lied in their declaration. Clear as day.
In a sane world, I would have had the option to turn the case into a criminal perjury trial right there, stopping other proceedings, and the case would basically have been decided on the truth or falsity of a few details. But the system doesn't work that way.
@pete @verretor that's one thing that baffles me, one would think that being caught red hands lying and forging documents under oath in court would not only make you lose your case, but would send you in jail on this basis only to teach you some manners. But as long as you have money to waste, it seems ok to do so.
The legal system, just one more scam, but with fancy costumes and decorum.