A Hong Kong Court on Monday rejected an application to terminate a landmark national security trial against media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a case that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
Jimmy Lai, 75, is the founder of now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China’s Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping.
Lai and his three companies, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, AD Internet Limited faced a total of three charges under the national security law, including collusion with foreign forces.
Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests. The law punishes acts including subversion, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with up to life in prison.
Lai is also charged with conspiracy to print seditious publications linked to Apple Daily, that closed in June 2021 after police arrested its staff and its assets were frozen by authorities. Sedition is punishable by a maximum two years jail.
Lai has pledged to plead not guilty and has been in detention for more than two years. His trial is scheduled to begin in September.
Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang applied to terminate the proceedings arguing that there is an apparent bias against Lai by the court due to a lack of transparency in the appointment of national security judges by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee.