Legal basis: Article 186 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). After the public prosecutor reads out the indictment in court, the defendant and the victim may state the crimes charged in the indictment, and the public prosecutor may interrogate the defendant. The victim, plaintiff, defender and agent ad litem of an incidental civil action may, with the permission of the presiding judge, put questions to the defendant. The judge can interrogate the defendant.