DeHeng Lawyers Achieved Not Guilty Verdict in Smuggling Case at First Instance and Affirmation at Second Instance

2025-06-17

Recently, in a smuggling case handled by lawyers Chu Weishu and Dai Ninghui from DeHeng’s Shanghai Office, the court fully adopted the defense’s not-guilty arguments despite the prosecution’s guilty charges. The first-instance court ruled the defendant not guilty, and the second-instance court upheld the original verdict, rejecting the prosecution’s appeal.

The defendant was caught by customs anti-smuggling authorities for failing to declare four imitation guns purchased from a foreign store upon entry. The public security organ commissioned an appraisal institution to issue an appraisal report, which determined that three of the imitation guns were classified as firearms. The prosecution brought charges for smuggling weapons.

DeHeng lawyers accepted the defendant’s mandate at the first-instance stage, reviewed the case files, and conducted in-depth research on the basis for firearm identification, appraisal standards, laws and regulations, judicial precedents, and expert articles. They determined that the key issue in this case was the distinction between guilt and innocence, established a not-guilty defense strategy, and communicated professionally with the court regarding the specifics of the case.

Ultimately, the court accepted all of DeHeng’s defense arguments and ruled to reject the appeal and uphold the original verdict.