Misled by Yuneng, prosecutors conducted a search on the morning of February 1, 2021, and filed charges on September 29, 2021. Some fishermen were resentful, others wept bitterly. Their fishing grounds were to be fitted with wind turbines, developed without their prior notice. Their fishing nets were torn, and although they received compensation through official mediation, they still faced legal repercussions. After being handcuffed and arrested, they endured the scornful looks from their neighbors. Once the case entered the court proceedings, each trip to court was a psychological and physical drain on the fishermen and their families. Some needed surgery, others had to care for their families, yet they had to spend a significant amount of time traveling to court. Frequent court appearances prevented them from fishing, leading to a sharp decline in income. Moreover, this case alone involved nearly 20 court hearings in the local court, placing an extremely heavy burden on the parties involved.

The judge, understanding that the defendant should be innocent but could not endure the torment of the trial, instructed both parties to reach a settlement. The settlement record stated: “The plaintiff considered that some of the defendants might have genuinely suffered harm, or could potentially secure an acquittal. However, to avoid the time and effort spent by the litigation on both parties, both parties agreed to end the case by having the defendant plead guilty and the plaintiff not pursue criminal or civil liability, aiming to achieve the best interests of both parties and foster greater harmony. The main reason the defendant was willing to plead guilty was to end the litigation through a settlement.” Some fishermen chose to settle to end the ordeal of the trial, while others chose to persevere and prove their innocence.