Lawyers for Jung Myung-suk, president of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), have repeatedly announced their intention to resign.
It is reported that Wynn plans to submit a letter of withdrawal of the appointment of counsel to the 17th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Law (Chief Judge Na Sang-hoon) today (12th).
Wynne's lawyer initially had a different defense direction from the law firm Square, saying that it would be difficult for him to lead the trial in the context of Square's resignation, and that he did not know the facts of the defendant's sexual assault and had only handled legal arguments.
Earlier, the law firm Square issued a letter of withdrawal to the court on the 13th, saying that all six lawyers would resign.
However, it was difficult to give a specific reason.
The lawyers' successive resignations appear to be due to the sharp deterioration in public opinion after the broadcast of a documentary about Mr. Jung's crimes.
On the other hand, there are claims that the lawyer's resignation is not Mr. Chong's intention to delay the trial.
If no counsel remains, the defendant may assert his or her right to defend itself and ask for time to appoint a new counsel.
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▲ Jung Myung-seok moves to the detention center after completing the warrant substantive examination
However, the court of first instance has stated that it plans to sentence Mr. Zheng before the end of his first-instance detention period on the 1th of next month, if possible.
At the fourth trial of Mr. Chung held on 1 July, the 27th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Law (presiding judge Na Sang-hoon) said, "It is difficult to consider his release due to the 'peculiarities' of the accused," adding, "Through an intensive hearing, we intend to finish the papers on the witnesses requested by the defense by the end of this month and complete the sentencing within the detention period."
As for the 12 witnesses requested by Mr. Chung's counsel, the court demanded that they be replaced with statements, saying that "there are too many witnesses and it does not seem necessary to cover them all."
Meanwhile, on the 7st of next month, the witness papers requested by Mr. Zheng's lawyer will be held.
Ms. Chung was arrested and charged with molesting or sexually assaulting Hong Kong national Ms. A (4) at Wolmyeong-dong Training Center in Jinsan-myeon, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan County, Chungcheongnam Province on 22 occasions between February 21 and September 2018, and touching certain body parts of Australian national C (2) at Geumsan Training Center on five occasions from July 2021 to the end of that year.
Mr. Chung is accused of indoctrinating believers by calling himself the Messiah and then committing this crime.
Jung denies the allegations, saying the victims were not sexually brainwashed or incapacitated, and that he made it clear that he was "a person, not a god."
Mr. Chung was released from prison in February 9 after serving a 17-year prison sentence for rape of believers.
(Photo = Yonhap News)