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Hong Kong’s High Court will on Monday hear the mitigation plea of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, marking the final stage before sentencing in a landmark national security case that has drawn widespread international condemnation. The high-profile trial, closely watched by global governments and human rights groups, could result in a life sentence for the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.
Last month, Lai was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s China-imposed national security law, as well as conspiracy to publish seditious material. Lai has consistently denied all charges. The verdict sparked criticism from the United States, Britain, the European Union and other Western governments, who argue the case highlights a serious erosion of press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the conviction demonstrated how Beijing is using the national security law to silence voices defending freedom of speech and fundamental rights. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also said recently that he had personally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to release Lai, describing him as a “positive activist,” though he had not received a response.
Lai, a longtime critic of the Chinese Communist Party, was described by judges as having used his influence and Apple Daily to undermine the authority and legitimacy of both China and Hong Kong. The court also said Lai’s testimony was at times contradictory and unreliable. Eight other defendants have pleaded guilty in the case, with five turning prosecution witnesses, including former Apple Daily executives and editors.
The mitigation hearings for all defendants are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time and are expected to last four days, with sentencing to follow at a later date. Lai, who holds British citizenship, has spent more than 1,800 days in solitary confinement. His children have warned that his health has deteriorated significantly, saying his death in custody would cause lasting damage to Hong Kong’s global reputation.
Five United Nations-appointed human rights experts have also called for Lai’s release on humanitarian grounds, citing a dramatic decline in fundamental freedoms. Hong Kong authorities, however, maintain that Lai received a fair trial and argue the national security law has restored stability to the city.
