Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai, a former pro-democracy media tycoon from was found guilty in a historic national security trial

Hong Kong: In a historic national security trial held in the city’s court on Monday, Jimmy Lai, a former Hong Kong media tycoon and vocal critic of Beijing, was found guilty and might spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Lai, 78, was convicted by three government-screened judges of plotting to publish seditious publications and collaborating with foreign forces to jeopardize national security. He entered a not guilty plea to every accusation.

In August 2020, Lai, 78, was taken into custody under a national security statute enforced by Beijing after widespread anti-government demonstrations in 2019. Lai has been convicted of a number of smaller crimes during his five years in detention, and he seems to have become thinner and more fragile.

Wearing a gray jacket, Lai entered the courtroom, grinned, and gestured to the public gallery. Lai’s wife and son were there, as was Joseph Zen, a Roman Catholic Cardinal from Hong Kong.

As a gauge of media freedom and judicial independence in the former British colony, which reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, the U.S., Britain, the European Union, and political observers have kept a close eye on Lai’s juryless trial.

His decision also puts Beijing’s diplomatic relations to the test. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his administration has made securing the release of British citizen Lai a top priority, while U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he has brought up the matter with China.

Lai might be imprisoned for life.
In addition to one accusation of conspiracy to disseminate seditious publications, the creator of the now-defunct pro-democracy weekly Apple Daily was found guilty on two charges of conspiracy to collide with foreign forces to jeopardize national security.

Depending on the nature of the act and his involvement, the collusion accusation may carry a term of three years in prison to life in prison under Hong Kong’s comprehensive national security statute. The maximum sentence for the sedition offense is two years in jail. Before being sentenced, Lai was scheduled to offer mitigating reasons during a hearing in January.

The governing Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong administration were both harshly criticized by the Apple Daily. After police raided its newsroom, detained prominent journalists, and froze its assets, it was forced to close in 2021.

Prosecutors charged Lai during his 156-day trial with plotting with Apple Daily executives and others to ask international powers to impose blockades or sanctions and carry out other unfriendly actions against China or Hong Kong.

Lai’s conversations with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July 2019 during the height of the demonstrations were cited by the prosecution as evidence that he made such demands.

Additionally, it provided the court with 161 publications—including stories from Apple Daily—as proof of a conspiracy to publish seditious content, along with text exchanges and postings on social media.

Health issues brought up during the marathon trial
Lai spent 52 days testifying on his own behalf, claiming that with the implementation of the comprehensive security legislation in June 2020, he had not demanded international sanctions.

Additionally, his legal staff promoted freedom of speech.

Lai’s health seemed to be declining as the trial went on.

In August, Lai’s attorneys informed the court that he had palpitations. Claire, his daughter, told The Associated Press that her father has lost some of his teeth and nails and has gotten weaker and thinner. She said that he had high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, persistent back pain, and infections for months.

She said, “His body is failing, but his spirit is strong.”

Following Lai’s report of cardiac issues, a medical test revealed no anomalies, according to Hong Kong’s government. This month, it also said that he received “adequate and comprehensive” medical care.

Dozens of locals waited in line outside the court building before dawn to guarantee a seat in the courtroom.

After hearing about Lai’s health, former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung showed up at five in the morning and said she wanted to see how he was doing.

Since the judgment date was just announced last Friday, she claimed she thought the process was being hurried, but she also stated, “I’m relieved that this case can at least conclude soon.”

Lai’s trial, which was initially set to begin in December 2022, was moved to December 2023 when authorities refused to allow a British attorney to defend him on the grounds of national security concerns.

Due to unrelated fraud accusations concerning lease breaches at Apple Daily’s offices, Lai was sentenced to five years and nine months in jail in 2022. In other instances involving the 2019 demonstrations, he was already punished for his participation in unlawful gatherings.