Closing arguments started Monday within the trial of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy media chief who based the now-shuttered Apple Every day newspaper in Hong Kong.
The 77-year-old Lai is charged with unlawful international collusion and conspiring with others to situation seditious publications below Hong Kong’s restrictive Nationwide Safety Regulation, which was imposed by Beijing in 2020. He may face life in jail if convicted. Lai has denied the fees.
Prosecutors on Monday stated that Lai had “unwavering intent to solicit sanctions, blockades, or different hostile actions” towards Hong Kong and China from international governments, a violation of the Nationwide Safety Regulation. Prosecutor Anthony Chau referenced Lai’s journey to america across the time of the Hong Kong protests in 2019, together with a visit in July of that yr when he met with Mike Pence, then the U.S. vice chairman.
In testimony final yr, Lai denied asking something particular of Pence. He stated he additionally met with then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asking Pompeo for the U.S. “to not do one thing, however to say one thing. To voice out its assist for Hong Kong.”
He additionally stated he wouldn’t have inspired international sanctions after the regulation was enacted on June 30, 2020.
The U.S. authorities has known as for Lai’s launch as just lately as February. The Chinese language Overseas Ministry stated the U.S. remarks have been “brazenly supporting anti-China and Hong Kong-disrupting factor Jimmy Lai.”
Closing arguments within the trial have been postponed twice final week, on Thursday for dangerous climate and on Friday to handle considerations about Lai’s well being. Lai had reported experiencing coronary heart “palpitations” and feeling like he may collapse, his lawyer stated.
Lai’s well being has been a longstanding concern for his household and supporters. In February, his son Sebastien stated that greater than 4 years in jail, a lot of the time in solitary confinement, had worsened his father’s medical points. “His physique is breaking down … It’s akin to torture,” Sebastien Lai instructed Reuters.
Prosecutors on Monday stated that Lai had been prescribed remedy and was sporting a coronary heart fee monitoring machine throughout courtroom proceedings. The prosecution’s opening assertion is predicted to wrap up Tuesday.
Consists of reporting from Agence France-Presse and the Related Press.
