SPC's 2nd Circuit Court hears appeal online
On Mar 31, the Second Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court heard an appeal of a financial loan contract dispute through the top court's "mobile micro court", a mini program for case hearing on the social media platform WeChat.
The case revolved around a loan of 149 million yuan ($21.13 million) with the value of sealed-up assets also topping 100 million yuan. Its eight parties were scattered in Hong Kong, Tianjin, and two cities in Northeast China's Liaoning province, Shenyang and Benxi.
Considering the potential infection risk and the quarantine requirement, the court decided to hear the case online.
To protect the parties' litigation-related rights and interests, the court helped them complete the registration process on the case hearing program.
On Mar 27, the judicial panel convened an online pre-court meeting via the program to clarify the parties' claims and replies. It also investigated and confirmed the evidence provided by the parties at trial, organized an exchange of new evidence, and clarified the focuses of their dispute.
On Mar 31 the parties smoothly went through the full litigation process including the presentation of their evidence, cross-examinations, arguments and final submissions.
With the improvement of the epidemic situation in China, the demand of the enterprises as litigation parties for a quicker trial process is on the rise.