"Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was found guilty on Monday of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious material under a Beijing-imposed national security law. The verdict, handed down by a three-judge panel at Hong Kong's High Court, could see Lai jailed for life. During the hearing, one of the three judges, Esther Toh, said the court had no doubt that Lai had "never wavered" in his intention to "destabilize" China, and that he harbored "hatred and resentment" toward the country."
"At Monday's hearing before the verdict, Judge Toh noted that the written judgment spans 855 pages, with only selected portions read aloud in court. She said that "as early as before the implementation of the national security law [Lai] sought to use the United States to counter China," citing messages between Lai and his assistant Mark Simon on the messaging app WhatsApp. The messages indicated that Simon had arranged meetings between Lai and US officials and lobbied on Lai's behalf."
Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of Apple Daily, was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious material under Hong Kong's national security law. A three-judge panel delivered the verdict; one judge said Lai had "never wavered" in intent to "destabilize" China and harbored "hatred and resentment" toward the country. The written judgment totals 855 pages. Evidence cited WhatsApp messages showing Liaison between Lai and his assistant arranging meetings with US officials. Lai has been detained for five years, pleaded not guilty, and a mitigation hearing is set for January 12.
Read at www.dw.com
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