Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law. A criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender from the day when he is interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or takes compulsory measures; Only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders during the investigation. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time.
When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking compulsory measures against him, the investigation organ shall inform him that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting the case, inform the defendant of the right to entrust a defender.
If a criminal suspect or defendant requests to entrust a defender while in custody, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall promptly convey it. If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may also entrust a defender.
Extended data:
Article 44 Obligations of a defender: A defender or any other person shall not help a criminal suspect or defendant to conceal, destroy, forge evidence or collude in confession, and shall not threaten or induce witnesses to commit perjury or engage in other acts that hinder judicial proceedings.
Anyone who violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be investigated for legal responsibility according to law. If a defender is suspected of committing a crime, it shall be handled by an investigation organ other than the investigation organ where the defender undertakes the case. If the defender is a lawyer, he shall promptly notify the law firm where he belongs or the lawyers association to which he belongs.
Fushun People's Procuratorate-People's Republic of China (PRC) Criminal Procedure Law (revised on 20 18)