Hong Kong’s most vocal China critic, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, was sentenced to 20 years in jail, ending the city’s biggest national security case.
Lai’s sentence on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one for publishing seditious materials ends a legal saga that has spanned nearly five years.
Lai, founder of the feisty but shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, was first arrested in August 2020 and was convicted last year.
His 20-year sentence was within the harshest penalty “band” for offences of a “grave nature” and is the most severe punishment meted out yet, the three national security judges said yesterday.
Lai’s sentence was enhanced by the fact that he was the “mastermind” and driving force behind “persistent” foreign collusion conspiracies, the judges said.
They cited prosecution evidence that the conspiracies had sought sanctions, blockades and other hostile acts from the United States and other countries while involving a web of individuals including Apple Daily staff, activists and foreigners.
Besides Lai, six former senior Apple Daily staffers, an activist and a paralegal were sentenced to jail terms ranging between six and 10 years.
“In the present case, Lai was no doubt the mastermind of all three conspiracies charged and therefore he warrants a heavier sentence,” the judges said.
“As regards the others, it is difficult to distinguish their relative culpability.”
The 78-year-old, a British citizen, has denied all the charges against him, saying in court he is a “political prisoner”.
The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a statement the sentence “is a solemn and powerful declaration that whoever dares to challenge the law on safeguarding national security will be severely punished”.
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee said it upholds the rule of law and gratified the public, saying “Jimmy Lai’s crimes are heinous and utterly unforgivable”. — Reuters
