People take part in a demonstration in support of the Taiwan Apple Daily, the last media company owned by the tycoon Jimmy Lai, on Dec.14, 2021, in Taipei, Taiwan. Lam Yik Fei/Getty ImagesHong Kong's high court delivered a guilty verdict Monday against 78-year-old media tycoon Jimmy Lai, convicting him on two charges of collusion with foreign forces and one count of sedition.
The British citizen and founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for January 12, 2025.
Verdict Ends Two-Year Legal Battle
Judge Esther Toh announced the decision in an 855-page verdict, stating that Lai had extended a "constant invitation" to the United States to help overthrow the Chinese government under the pretext of aiding Hong Kong residents.
The three government-vetted judges ruled that Lai was the "mastermind" behind conspiracies to seek foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China.
International Condemnation Mounts
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the verdict as a "disgraceful act of persecution," calling for Lai's immediate release.
The UK and Taiwan have urged Hong Kong authorities to free Lai, while former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously pledged to secure his release.This case echoes broader concerns about press freedom in Asia, where authoritarian governments increasingly target journalists and activists under national security legislation.
1,800 Days in Solitary Confinement
Lai has spent over 1,800 days in a maximum-security facility, much of it in solitary confinement, since his December 2020 arrest.
He is already serving a separate sentence of five years and nine months on unrelated fraud charges related to a commercial lease dispute.
Lai remained composed as the verdict was read, waving goodbye to his wife Teresa and son before being escorted from the courtroom.
Apple Daily's Final Chapter
Prosecutors accused Lai of using Apple Daily to advocate sanctions against Hong Kong during the 2019 pro-democracy protests and after Beijing imposed the national security law.
The newspaper, known for its critical coverage of the Chinese government, was forced to cease operations in 2021 after authorities arrested Lai and other executives while freezing its assets.
Defense Arguments Rejected
Lai's legal team acknowledged he had called for sanctions before the security law took effect, but insisted he ceased such appeals to comply with legislation.
The judges ruled that Lai never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party, "continuing though in a less explicit way".
Judge Toh said the court found Lai's testimony "contradictory and unreliable," concluding his only intent was to seek the downfall of the Communist Party.
National Security Law's Impact
The 2020 national security law has dramatically transformed Hong Kong's political landscape, with hundreds arrested under legislation criminalizing dissent with penalties up to life imprisonment.
Authorities have imprisoned numerous political opponents, disbanded civil society organizations, and silenced outspoken media outlets.
Lai's defense team has not yet disclosed whether they plan to appeal the verdict.
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