Legal basis: Paragraph 3 of Article 34 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC). If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may entrust a defender.
Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 33 A criminal suspect or defendant may, in addition to exercising the right of defense, entrust one or two persons as defenders. The following persons may be entrusted as defenders:
(1) lawyers;
(2) A person recommended by a people's organization or the unit to which the criminal suspect or defendant belongs;
(3) Guardians, relatives and friends of criminal suspects and defendants.