Politics Court finds Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai guilty
A court in Hong Kong has found publisher Jimmy Lai guilty in the trial for national security offenses.
15.12.2025, 04:20
SDA
The judges found the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper "Apple Daily" guilty on the charges of conspiracy to collaborate with foreign forces and publishing seditious publications, according to the verdict.
The sentence will be announced at a later date. However, a date for this has not yet been set. Lai faces a life sentence in the worst case scenario. The publisher had pleaded not guilty to a total of three charges in the trial - two of which related to cooperation with foreign forces.
Concern for Lai's health
The judiciary had accused Lai of violating the controversial security law, for which other pro-democracy activists had already been convicted. The judges' decision therefore came as little surprise. In any case, Lai has already been in prison for more than five years because he has already been sentenced to prison terms in other cases.
Recently, his supporters have become increasingly concerned about Lai's state of health. On the day of the trial, numerous police officers patrolled outside the court in the West Kowloon district. In addition to Lai's relatives, foreign diplomats were also present, as photos showed.
Criticism of the verdict
Human rights activists criticized the verdict. "Foreign governments should respond to the farce of Jimmy Lai's trial by pressing for the case to be overturned and for his immediate release," demanded Elaine Pearson, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch.
The media mogul, who also holds a British passport, founded the pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper "Apple Daily", which was forcibly shut down in 2021 after the authorities investigated security law violations.
New law after protests
The security law in the former British crown colony is aimed at pro-democracy opposition and activities that Beijing considers to be subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial. It came into force in 2020 in response to large demonstrations for more democracy.
