Verdict in Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai’s trial due next week

The 156-day trial, the astir high-profile usage of Beijing’s draconian nationalist information law, is acceptable to travel to a close.

Hong Kong’s High Court is acceptable to manus down a verdict successful the lawsuit of pro-democracy campaigner and media mogul Jimmy Lai adjacent week, bringing an extremity to his lengthy nationalist information trial.

Lai’s verdict volition beryllium delivered by a three-judge sheet successful a proceeding that begins astatine 10am section clip (02:00 GMT) connected Monday, according to a tribunal diary announcement seen connected Friday.

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Founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, Lai, 78, is charged with overseas collusion nether Hong Kong’s nationalist information law, which Beijing imposed pursuing immense and sometimes convulsive pro-democracy protests successful 2019.

He antecedently pleaded not blameworthy to 2 counts of conspiring to collude with overseas forces, arsenic good arsenic a 3rd number of sedition nether a colonial-era law.

Authorities impeach Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, of utilizing the Apple Daily to conspire with six erstwhile executives and others to nutrient seditious publications betwixt April 2019 and June 2021.

He is accused of utilizing his work to conspire with paralegal Chan Tsz-wah, activistic Andy Li, and others to invitation overseas countries – including the United States, Britain and Japan – to enforce sanctions, blockades and different hostile measures against Hong Kong and China.

Prosecutors besides impeach Lai of stoking hatred against authorities successful Beijing and Hong Kong done penning and publishing much than 150 captious op-eds successful the outlet.

He faces beingness imprisonment if convicted.

Lai has been held successful solitary confinement for much than 1,800 days, with his household saying they fearfulness for his wellbeing and his wellness is deteriorating arsenic helium suffers from diabetes, precocious humor pressure, arsenic good arsenic bosom palpitations that necessitate medication.

In August, the tribunal postponed closing arguments successful his 156-day proceedings – which began successful December 2023 – citing a “medical issue” involving the 78-year-old’s heart.

Authorities accidental Lai has received due attraction and aesculapian attraction during his detention.

Trump to bash ‘everything I tin to prevention him’

Hong Kong was handed backmost to China successful 1997 aft much than 150 years nether British assemblage rule.

As portion of the “one country, 2 systems” approach, Hong Kong officially operates a abstracted judicial strategy based connected Common Law traditions, meaning Lai has greater ineligible protections than helium would successful mainland China.

But Hong Kong has experienced important antiauthoritarian backsliding successful caller years, which accelerated pursuing wide pro-democracy protests successful 2019-20, which resulted successful a harsh crackdown connected dissent successful the territory by Beijing.

In 2020, Chinese authorities introduced a draconian nationalist information law to crush the protestation movement, establishing secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with overseas organisations arsenic crimes carrying hefty punishments.

Lai’s proceedings represents the astir high-profile usage of that law, with critics condemning his proceedings arsenic politically motivated.

The Chinese and Hong Kong governments importune Lai is being fixed a just proceedings and person said the ineligible process indispensable beryllium allowed to scope its conclusion.

But his lawsuit has drawn planetary scrutiny, including from US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly promised to “save” Lai. In August, Trump promised to bash “everything I tin to prevention him”.

“His sanction has already entered the ellipse of things that we’re talking about, and we’ll spot what we tin do,” Trump told Fox News Radio.

Trump besides reportedly raised Lai’s lawsuit during a gathering with Chinese person Xi Jinping erstwhile the brace met successful South Korea successful October.