A Hong Kong court has sentenced pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, marking the harshest punishment handed down under the city’s controversial national security law.
Lai, 78, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty of two counts of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious material. The verdict follows his conviction in December and brings his long legal battle with authorities to a dramatic and widely criticised conclusion.
Once one of Beijing’s most outspoken critics, Lai used Apple Daily as a platform to champion democratic values, press freedom and the rule of law. To supporters, he is a symbol of resistance and independent journalism; to the Chinese government, he is viewed as a threat to national security.
Six former senior executives of Apple Daily were also sentenced on Monday, receiving prison terms ranging from six years and nine months to 10 years. Some received reduced sentences after cooperating with prosecutors.
Human rights organisations, media groups and foreign governments have condemned Lai’s sentence, describing it as a serious blow to freedom of expression in Hong Kong. Human Rights Watch said the punishment is “effectively a death sentence” given Lai’s age and declining health.
Lai, who holds a British passport, has consistently denied all charges, insisting he merely stood up for Hong Kong’s core values. With part of the sentence running concurrently with earlier convictions, he is expected to remain behind bars for at least 18 more years, meaning he could be in his 90s before any possible release.
The case has become a defining moment for Hong Kong, underscoring how dramatically the city’s legal and media landscape has changed under the national security law.
Source : BBC News
