Sohn Suho, CBS Radio Kim Hyun-jung's News Show Interview
"Whether Jeong Myeong-seok Is the Second Coming of Jesus Is the Issue"
"(The detention period) can be extended up to twice. I looked up the records and both extensions have already been made. That ends at the end of April. I also think they might be trying to delay the trial as long as possible so that Jeong Myeong-seok is released and then faces trial."
Attorney Son Su-ho focused on the trial delay strategy as a variable in the JMS Jeong Myeong-seok case during an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 24th. There is talk that Jeong Myeong-seok, who is currently detained, could be released at the end of April.
Attorney Son explained, "He is currently on trial while detained, but if the trial does not conclude within six months, they cannot keep him detained. There is a limit to the detention period. So, for now, he could be released. If that happens, he will face trial while not detained."
However, Attorney Son predicted, "Even if the trial is prolonged, it seems difficult for Jeong Myeong-seok to be easily released. Especially, he could be released on bail. Rather than just releasing him after the six months are up, they might release him on bail before the detention period expires with various conditions such as residence restrictions or contact limitations."
Attorney Son focused on the background of the witness examination being canceled. He said, "Five witnesses were scheduled to be examined at Tuesday's trial this week. However, all five witnesses were absent," and explained, "As soon as the trial started, Jeong Myeong-seok's side argued to increase the number of witnesses."
Attorney Son said, "The allotted examination time was three hours, which is too short. They said that if the witness examination proceeds like this, it is unacceptable, so they did not bring the witnesses to court."
Additionally, Attorney Son analyzed, "There is a suspicion that the church member lawyer might be doing this to show tremendous loyalty rather than making any legal judgment or considering pros and cons. But still, it seems related to some period or time. In other words, it is a trial delay strategy."
Attorney Son predicted that whether Jeong Myeong-seok is the Second Coming of Jesus would become a key issue. He explained, "(In past trials, Jeong Myeong-seok) never taught that he was the Second Coming of Jesus or the Messiah, never brainwashed religiously, and never exploited the believers' inability to resist."
Attorney Son said, "Even if there was no assault or threat, if one takes advantage of the other party's mental incapacity or inability to resist to commit sexual assault or molestation, it is punished similarly to rape or forced molestation, so it is called quasi-rape or quasi-forced molestation. Jeong Myeong-seok must have taken advantage of the victim's inability to resist in this case to be found guilty."
Attorney Son analyzed, "As the trial's key issue becomes whether Jeong Myeong-seok is the Messiah, they suddenly start emphasizing in sermons that he is not the Messiah but a human. They have probably prepared various things." He explained that Jeong Myeong-seok's side is presenting the argument that he is not the Messiah but an ordinary human to avoid proving guilt.
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