Jimmy Lai to be sentenced in high-profile Hong Kong security law trial | World | News

Former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing Jimmy Lai will be sentenced on Monday in one of the most high-profile trials being conducted under a China-imposed national security law that has effectively suppressed dissent in the city.

In December, three government-appointed judges found Lai, 78, guilty of conspiring with others to cooperate with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious articles. Lai, who has denied all charges, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Hong Kong’s security law, which Beijing insists is necessary to maintain stability in the Chinese special administrative region.

The arrest and trial of the democracy advocate has raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom in what used to be a bastion of Asian media independence. The government argues that the case has nothing to do with press freedom, arguing that the defendants have used the news for years as cover to carry out actions harmful to China and Hong Kong.

‘We will never stop fighting’

Lai’s sentence could increase Beijing’s diplomatic tensions with foreign governments. His conviction drew criticism from the US and UK

US President Donald Trump He said he felt “very bad” after the decision and stated that he had spoken to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about Lai and “asked for his release to be considered.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government also called for the release of Lai, who has British citizenship. Lai’s daughter, Claire, told the Associated Press that she hoped the regime would be wise to release her father, a devout Roman Catholic.

He confirmed that their faith was firmly rooted in God. “We will never stop fighting until he is free,” he declared.

Critic punished for doing his job

Lai is the founder of Apple Daily, a now-defunct newspaper known for its critical coverage of the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing. He was arrested in August 2020 under the security law used in a long-running crackdown on many of Hong Kong’s leading activists.

During his 156-day trial, prosecutors alleged that he conspired with six former Apple Daily employees, two activists and others to solicit foreign powers to impose sanctions or blockades or take other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China. Lai defended himself for 52 days during the hearing, arguing that he was not advocating foreign sanctions after the law came into force.

In December, judges concluded that Lai masterminded the plots and remained unwavering in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party. They took exception to what they called his “standing invitation” to the United States to overthrow the Chinese government under the guise of helping Hong Kongers.

Urania Chiu, a law lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, said the case was notable for the broad interpretation of intent to incite and the application of the term “collusion with foreign powers” to specific media activities. He stated that the consequences of this are particularly worrying for journalists and academics.

“Offering and publishing legitimate criticism of the state, which often involves interaction with international platforms and audiences, can now easily be interpreted as ‘collusion,’” Chiu said.

Lai is currently serving a nearly six-year prison sentence for fraud allegations in a separate case and has been detained for more than five years. In January, lawyer Robert Pang reported that Lai suffered from health problems such as heart palpitations, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Although Lai’s condition was not life-threatening, Pang argued that his client’s health, age and the solitary confinement that the prosecution claimed Lai requested would make his sentence “more severe.”

The painful choice of former colleagues

The prosecution stated that the medical report showed that Lai’s general health condition remained stable. The Hong Kong government had previously stated that a medical examination following a complaint of heart problems found no abnormalities.

Former Apple Daily staff and activists named in Lai’s case pleaded guilty; This could lead to the sentences being commuted on Monday. Under the security law, reporting the crimes of others can lead to reduced sentences, and some of the staff served as witnesses for the prosecution.

The convicted journalists include publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, editor-in-chief of English news Fung Wai-kong and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

Two activists found guilty in the case, Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, also testified on behalf of the prosecution.

Dozens of people lined up outside the courthouse before dawn to reserve seats in the courtroom, with some arriving as early as Thursday.

Former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung was there to express her moral support. Cheung hopes the defendants will be released from prison soon and suggests it would be great if they are reunited with their families before the Lunar New Year next week.

“Whatever happens, this is the end, at least we will know the outcome,” he said.

Things to know about Jimmy Lai

Lai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule after 156 years under British colonial rule. The publication has built a loyal readership through occasional sensational news, investigative specials and short, animated video content.

Reports supporting the city’s pro-democracy movement, including the anti-government demonstrations that gripped Hong Kong in 2019, resonated strongly with democracy advocates.

Lai was among the first high-profile people detained under the security law in 2020. Within twelve months, several of Apple Daily’s senior journalists also faced arrest.

Police operations, criminal investigations and the freezing of its finances led to the closure of the newspaper in June 2021. Its final edition reached sales of one million copies.

In the press freedom ranking published by the media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, Hong Kong dropped 68 places to 148th out of 180 regions by 2022. The city’s most recent position was 140th, a dramatic drop from 18th in 2002.