After years-long legal battle, Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrives at day of sentencing
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Media mogul Jimmy Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces on Dec 15, and one count of publishing seditious materials.
PHOTO: REUTERS
HONG KONG - Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai is set to be sentenced on Feb 9 free the longstanding critic of the Chinese Communist Party
The sentence comes after a legal saga spanning almost five years with Lai - the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper - after he was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces
Lai’s plight has been criticised by global leaders
The 78-year-old, who now faces the prospect of life behind bars, has denied all the charges against him, saying in court he is a “political prisoner” facing persecution from Beijing.
Dozens of Lai’s supporters queued for several days to secure a spot in the courtroom, with scores of police officers, sniffer dogs and police vehicles including an armoured truck and a bomb disposal van deployed around the area.
“I feel that Mr Lai is the conscience of Hong Kong,” said a man named Sum, 64, who started queueing on Feb 5.
“He speaks up for Hong Kong people, and even for many wrongful cases in mainland China and for the development of democracy. So I feel that spending a few days of my own freedom sleeping out here is better than seeing him locked up inside.”
Mr Starmer raised the case of Lai
“I raised the case of Jimmy Lai and called for his release,” Mr Starmer told the UK parliament after his trip.
“Those discussions will continue, and the foreign secretary is in touch with Mr Lai’s family.”
Mr Trump too, raised Lai’s case with Mr Xi during a meeting in October 2025. Several Western diplomats told Reuters that negotiations to free Lai would likely begin in earnest after he is sentenced, and depending on whether Lai will appeal.
Life in prison?
Lai’s family, lawyer, supporters and former colleagues have warned that he could die in prison as he suffers from health conditions including heart palpitations and high blood pressure.
“I worry about his health most. I hope he and his family can be at peace,” said Mr Simon Ng, 65, one of dozens of supporters queuing for days outside the courthouse ahead of sentencing, some with sleeping bags and camping gear.
Sentencing guidelines under the national security law (NSL) stipulate that Lai, who was deemed a “mastermind” of a conspiracy to engage with foreign activists, politicians and others to solicit foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China, could come under the most severe penalty “band” of ten years to life imprisonment for offences of a “grave nature”.
Besides Lai, six former senior Apple Daily staffers, an activist and a paralegal will also be sentenced.
“Jimmy Lai’s trial has been nothing but a charade from the start and shows total contempt for Hong Kong laws that are supposed to protect press freedom,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi.
Beijing, however, says Lai has received a fair trial and all are treated equally under the national security law that has restored order to the city. REUTERS
