TRANSCRIPT OF LIVE NEWS STORY
12th March, 2015
SCENE: Newsroom, Shazbotdom News Network
"Preliminary reports are that the SWAT Teams of the Imperial Police raided more than 14 Catholic Churches and Cathedrals throughout the Empire and her Colonies," the news anchor stated. "The Supreme Emperor called for a News Conference only 30 minutes before the incidents took place and reporters were waiting in the Main Audience Chamber of the Imperial Palace as these operations were taking place. We now take you live to Jana Takanawa, live at the Imperial Palace."
SCENE: Press Conference Room, Imperial Palace, Shaz City, Shazbotdom
"Thank you for that, Tim," the reporter started. "It is a grim scene here at the Imperial Palace as many in the News Corps are shocked to hear of these operations against one of the largest churches in the Empire. We are still waiting for the Supreme Emperor to start the News Conference and I am sure that there are many questions that are to be answered here today." She then turns her head as a gentleman walks in through a door on the stage. "Here is someone of whom I hope will give us some answers."
"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen of the Press Corps., for joining us here today," he begins. "The Supreme Emperor is on his way down here right now to give you information on the raids that happened today throughout the Empire. He will have time for roughly 15 questions. After that he will take more if time allows but most likely will then take his leave. I ask that you keep calm during the press conference and only ask questions if, and only if, he points to you." He then steps back from the podium for a minute and puts his hand to his ear. After a minute he walks up to the podium again. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Supreme Emperor of Shazbotdom, Mr. Larry Williams."
The Imperial Anthem then begins to play as the Supreme Emperor walks out from a door on the far end of the room, taking slow steady paces towards the podium as the anthem plays out over speakers within the room. The Seal of the Empire is lowered on the back wall behind the podium and finishes it's descent moments before Larry gets to the podium. He stands there for 10 seconds as the Anthem finishes up.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press Corps and the world, it is with great sadness that the information was leaked to you recently about a spat of raids upon Houses of Worship within the Empire. Within the last hour roughly two dozen churches of the Catholic Church were raided across the Shazbotdom Empire and her Colonies. I called this press conference previous to the raids happening so that the reasoning for these raids could be given right away to the people." He clears his throat before continuing on, "Roughly a year ago it was brought to the attention of the Imperial Bureau of Investigation that acts were being done within the Catholic Church that were against the laws of the Empire, mainly those on exploitation of minors."
"Through investigations done by the IBI, it was determined that the Church was covering up sexual acts between members of the priesthood and minors to ensure that there would be no legal ramifications brought upon them. Using bribes upon the family members of the abused in exchange for their silence. Upon further investigation it was found that these bribes were from unsanctioned monies that the church was collecting that was gone unreported to the Imperial Bureau of Revenue and Taxation, making the total monies that they owed taxes on more than five times what they reported over at least the past decade," a table shows up on a screen in the corner.
"When they were confronted by these numbers, they proceeded to attempt to bribe a IBRT official to make the whole situation 'go away', as was given in the official video logs of the IBRT," he stated bluntly. "These members of the Church that were involved in the cover up of not only the abuse but also the bribery were located at the churches that were raided today. Right now members of the elite Imperial Police SWAT Teams are sorting through those that were arrested to see if any of them are identified as members of this rather large conspiracy." He looked out over the crowd, "I know that there will be many questions on this incident, but I will only have time to answer a select few. If there are any questions, please raise your hand."