Processes
Hong Kong publisher pleads not guilty in trial
Publisher Jimmy Lai has been on trial in the West Kowloon district of Hong Kong since December 18th. photo
© Billy HC Kwok/AP
In the worst case scenario, publisher Jimmy Lai faces a life sentence for violating the controversial security law. Now he spoke out about the allegations in the trial.
In the trial for alleged violations of the controversial security law in Hong Kong, the accused Publisher Jimmy Lai officially pleaded not guilty. This was reported by the Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post”. Lai has been standing trial in the West Kowloon district of the former British crown colony since December 18th.
The 76-year-old, who also has a British passport, is the founder of the pro-democracy Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, which was forcibly closed in 2021 after authorities began investigating alleged breaches of the security law. Lai has already been sentenced to two prison terms and has been in prison for three years. If, as expected, the court finds him guilty in this trial as well, in the worst case scenario he could face life in prison.
The security law targets the pro-democracy opposition and activities that Beijing views as subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial. It came into force in 2020 in response to large demonstrations for more democracy. Since the end of the protests, numerous activists have already been sentenced or have fled abroad.