Hong Kong (AP) – Hong Kong’s court began to hear the final arguments on Monday in National Security Exam The former founder of a newspaper for democracy Jimmy Lai, who could be sentenced to life in prison if he was convicted.
Lai, 77, was arrested in 2020 under the National Security Act, deposited Beijing after protests against the government in 2019. on fees Collalading with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy with others to publish sedative publications.
Lai founded Apple Daily, one of the local media who was the most important against the Hong Kong government. His highly profile case – which has already stretched for nearly 150 days, far beyond the original estimate of 80 days – is widely considered to be a court of freedom of press and a test for judicial independence at the Asian Financial Center.
Prosecutor claim That Lai asked foreign countries, especially the United States to take steps against Beijing “under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy”.
The first day of his testimony denied that he asked The then President Mike Pence and the then secretary of the state Mike Pompeo to act during the protests of 2019 against Hong Kong and China.
Later, when Lai’s lawyer asked him about the daily report of Apple, who said he asked the US government to sanction Beijing and Hong Kong, he said he had to discuss it with Pompe because he had no reason to doubt
However, Lai said he would not support foreign sanctions after the National Security Act was set out on June 30, 2020.
The final arguments were delayed twice, first because of the weather, then to worry about Lai’s health. On Friday his lawyer Robert Pang said have experienced heart palpitations while in prison. The judges wanted them to secure the heart monitor and medication first.
After Friday’s hearing, the Hong Kong government allegedly attempted to mislead the public’s foreign media about Lai’s medical care. He said that LAI medical examination had not found any abnormalities and that the medical care he received in custody was sufficient.
It is not clear when the judgment will be delivered.
The annual detention of Lai, especially in Solidarity prison, raised fears of foreign governments and groups of rights. US President Donald Trump before he was elected for his second term in November, said he would talk to Chinese leader Xi Jinping to seek Lai’s release: “One hundred percent, I will get him out.”
In a Radio interview Fox News Trump, who was released last Thursday, denied that “100%” would save Lai, but rather that he raises the problem. “I have already raised it and I will do everything in our power to save it,” he said.
China accused Lai of increasing an increase in anti-Chinese sentiment in Hong Kong and stating that firmly against interference with other countries in her internal affairs.
Dozens of people waited in the rain on Monday to see Lai in the main courtroom. Former reader Apple Daily Susan Li said she was afraid of Lai’s health when he looked visibly thinner, and she would continue to pray for him.
“I wanted to let him know we were still here,” she said.
When Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to China in 1997, Beijing promised to keep the civil freedoms of the city for 50 years.
Critics, however, claim that the promise has become Threadbare after the introduction of the Security Act, which the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities insist on the fact that they are necessary for the stability of the city.
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