Hong Kong’s High Court yesterday began hearing on the mitigation plea of pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai (黎智英), the final step before sentencing in a landmark national security trial that has drawn international condemnation and could see Lai jailed for life.
Last month, Lai, 78, was found guilty of being the “mastermind” on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under a China-imposed National Security Law, and conspiracy to publish seditious material.
Lai has denied all charges.
Photo: Reuters
The verdict was criticized by Britain, the EU, the US and others. Hong Kong authorities say Lai received a fair trial and the National Security Law has restored stability to the territory.
Hearings such as Monday’s give defence lawyers the chance ?to seek a more lenient jail term than the 10 years to life imprisonment Lai could face for his convictions, set out by guidelines in the security law.
Lai sat in the glass dock with eight trial defendants, including two key prosecution witnessess, Andy Li (李宇軒) and Wayland Chan Tsz-wah, separated by half-a-dozen prison guards.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau (周天行) dismissed recent concerns that Lau’s health had deteriorated in prison, citing a medical report on Friday that called his condition “stable”.
“After examination, no obvious abnormality was found,” Chau added, referring to heart palpitations Lai’s lawyers had flagged in August last year.
A longstanding critic of the Chinese Communist Party and founder of the now shuttered Apple Daily, Lai is the highest-profile figure to face prosecution under a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled territory following mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Nearly 100 people had lined up overnight outside the court building ahead of the hearing, some lining up three days in advance, equipped with sleeping bags, blankets and cardboard sheets for makeshift beds.
“Many people still support Mr Lai,” said Lee Ying-chi, who said she had lined up for several days. “We hope that he can be immediately released. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
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