Jimmy Lai Found "Guilty" - Hong Kong
Hong Kong media tycoon and Catholic convert Jimmy Lai, 78, was found guilty on Monday of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of sedition under a Beijing-imposed national security law.
The founder of the now-defunct newspaper Apple Daily, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The offences carry a potential life sentence, with sentencing expected at a later date. Lai has been in custody since 2020.
The trial was heard by a panel of three judges without a jury, as permitted under the national security law, and has attracted worldwide attention. Critics argue that the case exemplifies the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong.
The United Kingdom has strongly criticised the verdict. In a statement posted on X, Britain’s Foreign Office described the prosecution as politically motivated and said that Lai had been targeted for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the criticism, urging other countries not to interfere in Hong Kong’s judicial affairs or China’s internal matters.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association said that the case had already caused irreversible harm to the city’s media landscape prior to the guilty verdict being delivered.
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation said it is "a grotesque exercise in legal subversion and chicanery – a show trial masquerading as justice".
Picture: Jimmy Lai © wikipedia CC BY-SA, #newsWthkjnefjw