Can a friend entrust a lawyer in criminal cases?

According to Article 33 of the Criminal Procedure Law, if a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may entrust a defender.

Article 106 (6) of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that "near relatives" refer to husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

According to the above regulations, friends can help recommend lawyers and even pay lawyers' fees on their behalf, but the power of attorney should still be signed in the name of the suspect's close relatives.

Lawyer Li Minghua answers Panzhihua construction project case.