Closing arguments ended Thursday in the high-profile national security trial of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a case widely seen as a key test of rule of law in the China-ruled city.
A verdict is yet to be given in the 156-day trial that began in December 2023.
The case has become the most high-profile example of China’s crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Asian financial hub under a sweeping national security law that was imposed after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Not Guilty
When asked to give an indication of the verdict date, one of the judges Esther Toh said this would be announced “in good time”.
The 77-year-old Lai, who is the founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material.
Trump’s Help
Some countries such as the US say the trial is politically motivated and have demanded Lai’s immediate release. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say he is being given a fair trial.
US President Donald Trump said earlier in August that he would look into what he could do to help “save” Lai.
“I’m going to do everything I can to save him,” Trump told Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” in an interview. “We’ll see what we can do … we’re going to do everything we can.”
Charges
Lai, who faces possible life imprisonment, stands accused of using the Apple Daily as a platform to conspire with six former executives and others to produce seditious publications between April 2019 and June 2021, and to collude with foreign forces, including the US, between July 2020 and June 2021.
He was accused of conspiring with activist Andy Li, paralegal Chan Tsz-wah and others to invite foreign countries to impose sanctions, blockades and other hostile activities against Hong Kong and China.
He was also accused of financing advocacy group Stand with Hong Kong.
(With inputs from Reuters)
