Plot-twist: He's actually banned and fails all appeals, resulting in his total expulsion from the Empire.
*please read this in a stereotypical 1930's detective's voice* Or is that all justa ploy, eh? What if you was the one tu muydah Socks, and this here is all just a setup? You was at teh croime scene wit Socks, an erybody whos anybody knows you wasn't happy that he changed his will and left every ting to Matheus, so yah offed him didn't ya? Oh boy, yah mighta got the wool pulled o'er erybody else's eyes, but not this guy. I'm gettun to teh bottum'uh dis case if its teh lass ting I do!