Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to testify when national security trial resumes in November
Hong Kong Free Press
Pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will take the stand in his national security trial in November, a Hong Kong court has heard, after judges denied the Apple Daily founder’s bid to have charges against him dropped.
Senior Counsel Robert Pang on Wednesday argued that the prosecution had not presented evidence that Lai intended to continue carrying out an initial agreement to invite sanctions against the Hong Kong government after the security law came into effect, and thus the charges against Lai should be dropped.
“We rule that the first defendant has a case to answer on all the charges,” judge Esther Toh said on Thursday morning.
Lai, 76, is stands accused of two counts of taking part in a “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” under the Beijing-imposed security law, and for conspiring to publish “seditious” materials under a colonial-era law. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
The self-made millionaire who founded pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday to hear the judges’ ruling. The trial was adjourned until November 20, when Lai is expected to take the stand.
Originally estimated to last 80 days, Thursday marked the 92nd day of proceedings. The four month delay was due to the availability of the three judges, each handpicked to handle national security cases.
His testimony and cross-examination would take three to four weeks, While judge Alex Lee said Lai’s testimony and cross-examination would take three to four weeks, Pang said it would take 30 working days, but added that he “hesitated” to say how much time would be enough.
Judge Esther Toh said the court would do its best to accommodate if Lai’s testimony went into January, while judge Susanna Remedios said the court will take a Christmas break.
The defence will also call an expert witness come November to clarify technical matters on the messaging app Signal, Pang said on Thursday.
Lai’s trial began on December 18, 2023, at which point he had already spent more than 1,000 days in custody after his bail was revoked in December 2020.
Beijing inserted the national security law into Hong Kong’s mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. The legislation criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, giving police sweeping new powers and leading to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared.
The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
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