Hong Kong — HONG KONG (AP) — Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media mogul and one of the city's most outspoken critics of Beijing, will hear the long-awaited verdict in his landmark national security trial in a Hong Kong court on Monday. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Mr. Lai, 78, was arrested in August 2020 under the Chinese government's national security law, which was enacted in response to large-scale anti-government protests in 2019. During his five years in custody, Lai was convicted of several misdemeanors, and when he last appeared in court in August, he appeared even more frail and emaciated.
Mr. Li's trial was heard by three government-approved judges without the presence of a jury and has been closely watched by the United States, Britain, the European Union and political observers as a barometer of media freedom and judicial independence in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
His ruling is also a test for the Chinese government's diplomatic relations. US President Donald Trump said he had raised the matter with China, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said securing the release of Mr Lai, a British national, was the government's top priority.
The founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute seditious publications and two counts of conspiring with foreign forces to endanger national security. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If convicted of conspiracy, the sentence could range from three years to life in prison, depending on the nature of the crime and the person's role in it. The sedition charge carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. No sentencing is scheduled for Monday's hearing.
Apple Daily has been a vocal critic of the Hong Kong government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The company was forced to shut down in 2021 after authorities froze its assets as police raided its newsroom and arrested senior journalists.
During Lai's 156-day trial, prosecutors accused him of colluding with Apple Daily executives and urging foreign powers to engage in hostile activities against Hong Kong and China, including imposing sanctions and blockades.
Prosecutors also accused Lai of making such demands, highlighting his meetings with former US Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July 2019 at the height of the protests.
It also submitted to the court 161 publications, including Apple Daily articles, as evidence of a conspiracy to publish inflammatory material, as well as social media posts and text messages.
Mr. Lai testified for 52 days in his own defense, insisting he had not sought sanctions from foreign countries since the sweeping security law took effect in June 2020.
His legal team also argued for freedom of expression.
As the trial progressed, Lai's health appeared to be deteriorating.
Lai's lawyer told the court in August that Lai had been suffering from heart palpitations. His daughter Claire told The Associated Press that her father was emaciated and thin and lost some of his nails and teeth. She also said he had been suffering from infections for several months, chronic back pain, diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure.
“His spirit is strong, but his body is failing,” she said.
The Hong Kong government announced that a medical examination after Lai complained of heart disease revealed no abnormalities. It added that the medical services provided to him this month were “adequate and comprehensive”.
Before sunrise, dozens of residents lined up outside the court building to secure seats in the courtroom.
Former Apple Daily employee Tammy Chan arrived at 5 a.m. and said she wanted to know about Lai's condition following reports about his health.
She said it felt like the process was rushed because the sentencing date was only announced last Friday, but added: “I'm relieved that at least this case can be concluded quickly.”
Mr Lai's trial was originally scheduled to begin in December 2022, but was postponed to December 2023 after authorities blocked British lawyers from representing him, citing national security risks.
In 2022, Mr. Li was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for other fraud charges, including breaching a lease agreement at Apple Ilbo's headquarters. He was previously convicted in other cases related to the 2019 protests for his role in an unauthorized assembly.
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Associated Press writer Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong contributed to this report.