You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 312

You Have Been Defended – Episode 312

[Breaking News] Suspect in Lee Jung-chan Murder Case, Lawyer Cha, Appears at Police Station…

By Yoon Se-yeon | Posted 2011.03.16 | Number of Comments: 2912

[Photograph.jpeg]

▲ Reporter Yoon Se-yeon = The suspect, Mr. Cha, and his lawyer are entering the Gangnam Police Station, which took over the Lee Jung-chan murder case from the Hwagun Police Station.

Yoon Se-yeon, Reporter

[email protected]

Kang Min-jae belatedly checked the article uploaded by Yoon Se-yeon and chuckled.

She must have been so hurried that she misspelled Gangnam Police Station as ‘Gangnam Police-sha’ and hadn’t even noticed yet.

Well, such a small mistake could be easily overlooked.

Because the reaction to the article was incredibly heated.

[ub***: Wow… he finally showed up lol

oa***: Finally acknowledging the unforgivable sin he committed… that devilish guy… killing our President Lee Jung-chan… did he think he could live well forever?! • •

ㄴdll***: Hey grandpa… Lee Se-hwa got elected… you seem senile..

qg***: Seems like he showed up because he’s confident… there’s no need to appear before the police who couldn’t catch him for so long…

ㄴ00***: I second that. His acquaintances probably created all the evidence for him, so he figured he wouldn’t be wrongly accused. But it’s a bit sly lol If he was so confident, he could have just been investigated while detained.

ㄴrl***: 됫ㄴㄴ됐ㅇㅇ And if it were you, would you have come out nicely if you suddenly became a murderer overnight even though you didn’t commit a crime?ㅋㅋ The characteristic of these kinds of people is that they always try to lecture the victim, saying they would have acted fairly if it were them ㅋㅋ]

Kang Min-jae scrolled down, taking out his second cigarette in the smoking area.

He had been investigated for a long time, and in the meantime, so many people had commented that even fights broke out within the comments.

After that, numerous news outlets that gathered information from Iljung Daily’s article released countless articles, but the heat in the comment section of the first article still didn’t die down.

[dh***: But Iljung Daily is kind of funny. Wasn’t Iljung Daily the one that made Lawyer Cha a criminal? Iljung Daily broke the embargo. They should apologize to Lawyer Cha first before taking pictures of him when he shows up.

ㄴrk***: What if Lawyer Cha is really the murderer lol

ㄴdh***: Even if he’s the real murderer, my position doesn’t change. Even a murderer has basic rights to be guaranteed, and breaking the reporting guidelines and embargo is wrong.

new! al***: I think Lawyer Cha appeared because he can definitely prove his innocence. The evidence has already been sufficiently presented in Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon’s broadcasts, and even just looking at that, it was unreasonable to treat him as a suspect. Anyway, I hope he wraps things up well and continues to show good work in the future! I personally support him because his actions are admirable.]

Kang Min-jae carefully left a comment.

The story that he was in a hermitage and didn’t know anything hadn’t been released to the outside yet, so he decided to write as if he had been watching for the right moment to appear.

Cha Joo-han told him not to comment on posts related to him, but surely one comment out of nearly 3,000 wouldn’t hurt, right?

[ ㄴle***: Are you Lawyer Cha himself? lol

ㄴia***: Yeah, next is Cha-byun-byun (meaning Lawyer Cha’s lawyer)

ㄴlq***: Not funny;]

“Wow, how did they know?”

He thought it was possible when they asked if he was Lawyer Cha himself, but when he saw the ‘Cha-byun-byun’ comment, his heart suddenly dropped.

‘Let’s just stop here.’

These days, the internet investigators are so scary that if he got caught commenting, he would be embroiled in unnecessary gossip.

Kang Min-jae put his phone in his pocket and went back inside the police station.

The time for lawyer visits to the detention center had arrived.

He had bought the necessary items before coming to the police station, so there was nothing else to buy, but Jo Bong-joon and Choi Jong-hyun said they would come to visit tomorrow, so he decided to ask them for a few more things then.

A lawyer’s visit and a friend’s visit are completely different in nature.

“…Lawyer!”

Sitting at the table and waiting, he soon saw Cha Joo-han being led in by the police.

In fact, it had only been about an hour since they were separated, but for some reason, he seemed to have become gaunt in that short time.

Kang Min-jae jumped up, and Cha Joo-han sat across from him, staring at him silently.

“Why are you making such a fuss?”

“What do you mean why! You’re in custody, how is this not a fuss!”

He had expected that he would be arrested if he showed up, but fortunately, he wasn’t handcuffed until he reached the interrogation room.

But after that, even Lee Se-hwa’s influence couldn’t prevent the arrest.

The court had already issued an arrest warrant for Cha Joo-han.

No matter how perfect the evidence they brought, they couldn’t prevent the immediate arrest.

“Is it okay inside? Do you have a roommate? Are they bothering you?”

“I’m lucky, I’m alone. I think I got some consideration. I can apply for books to read, so I think I can pass the time reading.”

Cha Joo-han answered casually, but Kang Min-jae felt even more heartbroken by his reaction.

To treat someone who could live without the law like this…

No, maybe he’s not someone who could live without the law.

Sometimes he acts like a crazy person, and it seems like the law is suppressing those aspects…

Anyway!

To arrest such a person like this!

“Did you apply for a writ of habeas corpus [a legal action seeking relief from unlawful imprisonment]?”

“Yes.”

“If you submit evidence during the habeas corpus review, you’ll be released, and you only have to be here for 48 hours, so what are you worried about?”

“Still…”

Kang Min-jae mumbled, collapsing onto the desk.

“It’s a bit late now, but Bong-joon and Jong-hyun are coming to visit tomorrow. I asked them to bring things like Choco Pies.”

“It’s okay.”

“You can’t let your sugar drop.”

Cha Joo-han sighed and looked at Kang Min-jae.

There was no chance that the habeas corpus review would be rejected.

He wouldn’t be transferred to a detention center, and he would be released directly from the detention cell.

For Cha Joo-han, who had been imprisoned for over a month, the next 48 hours didn’t require any particular patience.

Rather, he was even happy to think of it as a gateway to the outside world.

But Kang Min-jae, unaware of his inner thoughts, continued a lawyer’s visit that was too personal and filled with tears.

* * *

“Hello. I am Lawyer Kang Min-jae, the attorney for Cha Joo-han.”

The flashes from the reporters in front of the courthouse rained down.

Unlike the media, which had always referred to him as Lawyer Cha, there was no reason to hide it now, so I decided to reveal my name.

I leaked the information to Yoon Se-yeon to gather reporters at the courthouse as soon as the habeas corpus review was over, and the reporters who heard the news came to take pictures of me.

It was no longer possible to be called Lawyer Cha forever, and there were opinions that it would be better to reveal my name in order to effectively show that I was falsely accused of being a criminal and then cleared of the charges.

I thought the same way.

But there were quite a few more reporters gathered than I thought.

The number I had in mind was quite large, but it seemed to be about twice that.

I had heard that it had been a hot topic ever since Yoon Se-yeon released the news that I had voluntarily appeared at the police station, followed by the news that I had applied for a habeas corpus review…

Well, Kang Min-jae, being an attention seeker, might think it’s even better.

“Regarding Cha Joo-han’s request for a habeas corpus review, the court has issued an unconditional release order.”

Kang Min-jae stood in front of the reporters and said loudly.

Even amidst the noise of the flashing cameras, Kang Min-jae’s voice was not drowned out and spread to the back.

The reporters at the end were also able to write down the contents as soon as Kang Min-jae finished speaking.

“Cha Joo-han has been investigated by the police once, but there are still remaining investigations, so it is difficult for us to unilaterally give a definite answer regarding the charges. However, it is usually said that a release order is issued in only one out of ten habeas corpus reviews. Nevertheless, the reason why our request was granted is proof that Cha Joo-han is not suspected.”

With this evidence, it would mean the judge is out of their mind if they didn’t grant the request.

“Our law firm has submitted to the police solid evidence that Cha Joo-han did not murder former CEO Lee Jung-chan, and we have also submitted detailed information about the person suspected of being the real killer of former CEO Lee Jung-chan. In addition, we have secured a statement from a key witness and submitted the transcript.”

Kang Min-jae looked at the reporters with a serious expression and then opened his mouth again.

“Also, I would like to address the accusation that Cha Joo-han disobeyed the summons and fled. Cha Joo-han did not flee; he was staying in a mountain hermitage for the purpose of recuperation before he was aware of the murder of former CEO Lee Jung-chan. Because there were no televisions, newspapers, or radios, Cha Joo-han was completely unaware that this incident had occurred. After coming down from the mountain, he contacted me, his lawyer, and only then received the report. Numerous pieces of evidence for this have also been provided to the police, and it is expected that the police will verify this soon. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that Cha Joo-han did not flee out of fear of arrest.”

I was thinking of leaving out the part about being in the hermitage, but I was worried that there would be unnecessary noise with the words, ‘If there was no problem, why did he run away?’ so I had no choice but to reveal it together.

Of course, the hermitage story would be a fun happening for those who believe it, and it would be treated as nonsense for those who don’t, so there would be gossip either way…

Well, it’s better than hearing that a lawyer ran away because he was afraid of legal procedures.

“Currently, Cha Joo-han came up from the countryside and, as soon as he received the report about this incident, he voluntarily appeared at the police station without stopping anywhere, was arrested, and has just been released. Therefore, as he is thought to need rest, we will not be taking any questions separately and will greet you later through other channels.”

After saying that, Kang Min-jae took the lead and cleared the path filled with reporters.

I slowly followed the parting path and Kang Min-jae, who was walking ahead.

Was the sunlight pouring down from the midday sky always this harsh?

I felt like I would naturally frown, but I tightened the muscles in my face.

Because I thought that no matter what expression I made, it would eventually be interpreted in a strange way.

“There were no parking spaces, so I parked in a private parking lot nearby. If you’re uncomfortable going outside, should I call a taxi?”

As we got away from the reporters, Kang Min-jae asked carefully.

Why would I be afraid to walk around outside like some great star?

“No, it’s okay. Let’s have a cigarette and go. It’s been hard holding back for two days.”

“Yes.”

I know where the most secluded place to smoke is because I’ve been in and out of the Seoul Central District Court so often.

“People are staring at you, Lawyer.”

As I put a cigarette in my mouth and tried to light it, Kang Min-jae said, conscious of the surrounding gazes.

Looking around, there are a few familiar faces here and there, mostly judges, it seems.

Why wouldn’t there be?

Not only do I know a lot of people in the court, but even if they didn’t know me until now, the fact that I was only known as Lawyer Cha has now been revealed with my name and face.

“Let’s smoke quickly and go.”

Kang Min-jae seemed very worried that I would be concerned about this.

“Why, are you worried I’ll have a panic attack or something?”

I smiled slightly and exhaled cigarette smoke.

Then Kang Min-jae flinched and widened his eyes.

“No?”

[Lie]

At first, I liked that he didn’t lie in front of me, but it seems like those days are long gone.

Panic attacks can come at any time, but I don’t feel like I’m going to have one now.

Anyway, I’m feeling a considerable sense of liberation.

“Lawyer, where are you going now?”

Kang Min-jae asked as he started the car.