In December 2020, Hong Kong tycoon and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai was charged with sedition as part of a large government crackdown that took place following civil unrest in Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Lai officially entered in a plea of not guilty. He is accused of endangering the national security of China and prosecutors have laid out details alleging he was in collusion with foreign actors.
Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai (C) arrives at the Court of Final Appeal to hear a decision on whether he will be granted bail, in Hong Kong on February 9, 2021.
Lai was the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He faces two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign actors, which also includes calling for sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials. He is being charged under the communist government's national security law. "Not guilty," Lai reportedly said three times as each charge was read.
Seen as an evaluation of Hong Kong's judicial independence under the national security law of the land, the United States, European Union, and Britain are said to be closely watching the outcome.
The prosecution has outlined for the first time in court the main details of their case, including meetings with senior officials in the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The prosecution believes this is proof of collusion.
He is depicted as a radical figure who, according to prosecutor Anthony Chau, conspired to bring "hatred and stir up opposition" against Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Prosecutor Anthony Chau told the three high court judges that Lai was "a radical figure" who conspired with others to bring "hatred and stir up opposition" against Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Reuters reports that prosecutors brandish photos of Lai alongside Trump, former VP Mike Pence, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as well as former Speak of the House Nancy Pelosi, as evidence. Furthermore, the prosecution also played numerous videos of Lai calling for sanctions against China.
"Under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy", Chau said, Lai had since June 2019 made requests for foreign countries, in particular the United States, to impose sanctions against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments.The United States imposed sanctions on Hong Kong and China, including Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, after the national security law was enacted.
The defendant is accused of conspiring with three companies and six former executives linked to the Apple Daily, and several others including U.S. citizen Mark Simon to produce seditious publications and to collude with foreign forces, as well as the freedom advocacy group "Stand with Hong Kong, Fight for Freedom" and activist Andy Li, Finn Lau, who is in exile, and many others.The prosecution laid out 161 articles and examples in all.
