You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 14

You’ve Been Defended – Episode 14

[Prosecutor Who Dramatically Arrested Jo Jin-tae, Now Defending Suspect in Kim Cheol-hwan Couple Murder Case?]

Scanning through the internet news on the portal screen, I found the article he mentioned.

[Cha Joo-han, former chief prosecutor of the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, who dramatically arrested the criminal Jo Jin-tae in the Euncheon-dong serial murder case that almost fell into mystery, is now defending the suspect in the murder of the late Kim Cheol-hwan and Yeo Hee-sook, causing shock in some quarters.

The video below shows former prosecutor Cha giving a briefing to the public during the Euncheon-dong serial murder case.

▷ Watch the video

ㄴ Money is the best, lol [laughing out loud]

ㄴ They’ll do anything if they get paid.

ㄴ A common method of making a fortune as a lawyer right after becoming famous and taking off the prosecutor’s gown.

ㄴ After appearing on the news, they even did a lot of media play, saying he was handsome and just, lol]

The case itself is famous, so it seems that attention is focused even on someone insignificant like me.

It’s not a big article, just a passing one, so there are few comments and not many views.

This is quite something.

The public opinion that praised me as a righteous prosecutor during Jo Jin-tae’s first trial instantly turns its back.

Just like how the public opinion that hailed me as the righteous Wooshin Sniper started to criticize me as a retaliatory prosecutor.

It’s really consistent, then and now.

‘A fortune, my foot.’

I don’t even know if I’ll be able to receive the retainer [payment for legal services] properly yet.

Personally, I started this case thinking of it as pro bono [legal work undertaken without charge].

And the media play, it’s not like I asked for it.

“It’s enough to prove his innocence.”

Having certainty while taking on a case is definitely a strange feeling.

There were more than a few times when I felt uneasy even while looking at various pieces of direct evidence with my own eyes.

I had to verify and re-verify myself to make sure I was doing the right thing.

But isn’t it different this time?

I know for sure that Kim Yeon-joon is innocent, and I also know who the real culprit is.

“Then, shall we go?”

* * *

As soon as I arrived on the 4th floor of the main building, where the Criminal Division 3 prosecutor’s offices were located, people’s attention immediately focused on me.

It didn’t exactly feel welcoming.

Even the juniors who used to greet me loudly with folder bows just passed by with silent nods, as if trying to keep it a secret.

[Prosecutor Yang Han-seok]

I opened the door to the prosecutor’s office in charge of the Kim Yeon-joon case and went inside.

The criminal investigators, who were busily typing on their keyboards while eating triangular gimbap [Korean rice ball wrapped in seaweed] amidst the piles of documents, jumped up when they saw me.

“Prosecutor Cha!”

“It’s been a while.”

“Oh, yes. It’s been a long time. But, what brings you here? There’s no investigation for Kim Yeon-joon today.”

“I know. Where is Prosecutor Yang?”

“He’s in his room. Just a moment.”

The investigator ran into the room with the blinds drawn.

And after a while, Prosecutor Yang opened the door with a disheveled face and peeked out.

“Oh, senior… I told you on the phone that it wouldn’t work. I didn’t say this back then, but to be honest, the chief told everyone that if any information leaks to you, it’s over. I’m really dead if the chief finds out.”

The investigators glanced at us, trying to read the room, as Prosecutor Yang whined.

It was already expected, but it seems Hwang Young-chan has been exaggerating a lot.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t come to ask for a favor.”

“Yes?”

“This is a letter of attorney I received from Yeo Hee-sook’s mother. Give me the autopsy results.”

“……”

Prosecutor Yang stared at me with his mouth wide open.

“Hurry.”

With my urging, Prosecutor Yang, after reviewing the letter of attorney, gestured to the investigator.

“Hey, senior!”

Prosecutor Yang grabbed me as I was about to leave with the autopsy report.

“Um, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“You’re not trying to prove Kim Yeon-joon’s innocence, are you? You’re thinking of a reduced sentence… right?”

He wouldn’t even open his mouth to me, but he wants to know my information?

Seeing Prosecutor Yang’s eyes shaking, it seemed like he was quite worried about facing me.

I understand.

If a not-guilty verdict comes out for a suspect who can’t deny the charges in a case that has attracted media attention, it’s a great crime.

“That’s right. I’m only doing this case because I was asked to.”

It’s a blessing that Prosecutor Yang doesn’t have the ability to detect lies.

It would be troublesome if the word [Lie] appeared above my head, wouldn’t it?

“Oh… I see. I understand. I’ll see you in court. Take care going back.”

It’s a pity that Prosecutor Yang seems relieved, but winning the trial is more important.

Since I don’t know what kind of obstruction Hwang Young-chan will come up with, I have no choice but to start playing politics too.

I don’t feel sorry for Prosecutor Yang, but I don’t need to feel guilty either.

This world is originally like that, and above all.

I happened to find out two years from now that Prosecutor Yang had been taking kickbacks from companies.

Isn’t it okay to give a corrupt prosecutor a taste of his own medicine?

I returned to the office and looked at the autopsy report.

As mentioned in the prosecution’s briefing, all the wounds on the body were caused by weapons.

However, I didn’t struggle to get the autopsy report because of the information I already knew.

[Detected components: Escitalopram oxalate, Bromazepam, Propranolol hydrochloride.]

All psychiatric medications.

Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs.

Drugs that cannot be obtained without a prescription.

If it was found in the autopsy, it means it was taken not long before the time of death.

‘Yeo Hee-sook was seeing a psychiatrist.’

That means Yeo Hee-sook had someone she confided in about her situation.

‘I need to put that psychiatrist on the stand.’

Then I’ll be securing a reliable testimony that I’ve been waiting for.

‘Someone as well-known as Yeo Hee-sook wouldn’t have gone to the psychiatry department in the same university hospital.’

If she went there and talked about it, rumors could spread, and she would have worried about being seen going in and out of the psychiatry department.

She would have privately contacted a reliable hospital…

-And she asked to see the footage every time we cut a take. Since Yeo Hee-sook was very active in broadcasting, she had a manager and everything. The manager kept begging, saying that he had to check it no matter how busy he was, so I felt a lot of pressure.

Suddenly, the words of the assistant director of came to mind.

That’s right. Yeo Hee-sook had a manager.

Wouldn’t the manager know where Yeo Hee-sook goes to the hospital?

I immediately looked up the number of the agency Yeo Hee-sook belonged to and called.

-Yes, this is MQ Entertainment.

“Hello. I have an inquiry.”

-Please tell me.

“I was wondering if I could get the contact information for the manager of the late Yeo Hee-sook.”

-I’m sorry, but who are you?

“I’m the suspect’s lawyer.”

-Um, we can’t just decide on our own to give it to you. If you leave your contact information, I’ll pass it on to the manager.”

The employee answering the phone felt like they were reciting from a manual.

They must have received a tremendous number of calls from the police, the prosecution, and reporters trying to get an interview.

Since MQ Entertainment was the company that both Yeo Hee-sook and Kim Cheol-hwan belonged to, the employees must have had a hard time.

It was a wonder that they hadn’t hung up the phone.

“I understand.”

There’s no way an employee reciting this manual would leave a contact number.

I have to think of it as a bust [failure].

‘In times like this, it’s Yoon Se-yeon, after all.’

[Yeo Hee-sook Manager: 010-1357-2468. Make sure to keep your promise to give me the source!! I’ve even recorded everything^^ If you don’t give it to me, I’ll sue you right away.]

The text message arrived at the speed of light.

If I don’t give her a proper source, I might get hit?

* * *

“Yang Pro [short for Prosecutor].”

Criminal Division 3 Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Hwang Young-chan, who was looking down at the bottom of the window with the blinds raised, muttered.

Prosecutor Yang Han-seok, who was called, wriggled his clasped hands and slightly raised his head, which was deeply bowed.

“Is it true that you gave Cha Joo-han the autopsy report?”

Hwang Young-chan, who was standing with his back to Yang Han-seok, turned his head sharply and asked.

“Chief, that’s,”

“I told you not to tell him anything, didn’t I, you bastard!”

“I didn’t want to give it to him, Chief…”

He replied in a barely audible voice.

It was already known that Cha Joo-han had grabbed the biggest case in Criminal Division 3 as soon as he resigned, as if to snipe at it.

Everyone who clocked in at the Central District Prosecutors’ Office knew about the splendid anecdotes Cha Joo-han had shown as a prosecutor and that Hwang Young-chan had openly favored Cha Joo-han.

The two of them broke up around the time of Jo Jin-tae’s verdict, and Cha Joo-han immediately threw his resignation.

“That bastard Cha Joo-han. He doesn’t even know the grace of being raised…”

Because of that, Hwang Young-chan became the center of all sorts of rumors.

If Cha Joo-han, who had always been cautious, had even thrown his resignation, it meant that it was no ordinary matter.

Since Cha Joo-han’s nickname within the prosecution was FM Robot [Field Manual Robot, meaning someone who strictly follows rules], the assumption was that Hwang Young-chan was the one who had done something wrong.

Even after accepting the resignation, Hwang Young-chan was called to the Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

He was scolded for days for using the Jo Jin-tae case to create media play and making him the mascot of the Central District Prosecutors’ Office, only to let him go.

But now, as if that wasn’t enough, he was going to face him in court as well.

“…Senior Cha came with the bereaved family’s letter of attorney. I couldn’t not give him the autopsy report.”

“The trial is in two days! You could have dragged out the time and given it to him!”

“Chief, we’re going to win this trial anyway. There’s too much evidence. Giving him one autopsy report won’t change anything. No matter how much of a senior he is, what can he do in two days?”

Prosecutor Yang, who was spitting out excuses, shut his mouth at Hwang Young-chan’s cold gaze.

Hwang Young-chan, who was furious, took a long breath as if trying to calm down.

Then, in a much milder voice, he asked.

“Hoo… Do you know Cha Joo-han?”

“……”

“You might think it’s just an autopsy report. Yes, you can think that way. But Cha Joo-han is a guy who has never lost a trial. There must be something certain, so he’s defending Kim Yeon-joon.”

“…Senior Cha’s goal is a reduced sentence. It’s not because there’s something certain.”

At those words, Hwang Young-chan quickly asked back.

“Did Cha Joo-han say that?”

“Yes, Chief. I asked him directly.”

“He’s not the type to play politics.”

With a slightly relieved look, Prosecutor Yang sighed.

But Hwang Young-chan still seemed uneasy and reaffirmed.

“You know why I assigned this case to you, right?”

“…Yes, Chief. I will do my best. I will never disappoint you as much as you trust me.”

“Do it right. It’s a done deal. All you have to do is eat it [win easily].”

“Yes.”

Hwang Young-chan waved his hand as if telling him to leave.

As Prosecutor Yang left and the door closed, he muttered to himself.

“Yeah. No matter how much of a Cha Joo-han he is. It doesn’t make sense to think about proving his innocence.”

Shaking off his 찝찝함 [찝찝함 (jjipjjipham) is a Korean word that describes a feeling of unease, discomfort, or something being not quite right] and feeling much better, he smiled faintly.

Unaware that FM Robot Cha Joo-han had 탑재했다 [탑재했다 (tapjaehaetda) means ‘installed’ or ‘equipped’] political maneuvering functions through 10 years of firmware upgrades.