Hong Kong court hears closing arguments in Jimmy Lai trial

[ad_1] Closing arguments started Monday within the trial of Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy media chief who based the now-shuttered Apple Day by day newspaper in Hong Kong.

The 77-year-old Lai is charged with unlawful overseas collusion and conspiring with others to challenge seditious publications underneath Hong Kong’s restrictive Nationwide Safety Legislation, which was imposed by Beijing in 2020. He might face life in jail if convicted. Lai has denied the costs.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="Members of the Police Counter Terrorism Response Unit stand guard as they escort a prison van believed to be carrying Jimmy Lai to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts building in Hong Kong, Aug. 18, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=800&height=533" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=274&height=182 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=400&height=266 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=768&height=511 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=1024&height=682 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/D3E73KDLVVBFRPSZ6JP5OW55SI.JPG?auth=685850cf918b97aebfcfc21192dd2a79bdbb5dd3f5dd7e1f46bf08bca7e31360&width=1440&height=959 1440w" width="800" height="533"/> china-hong-kong-jimmy-lai-trial Members of the Police Counter Terrorism Response Unit stand guard as they escort a jail van believed to be carrying Jimmy Lai to the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts constructing in Hong Kong, Aug. 18, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Prosecutors on Monday mentioned that Lai had “unwavering intent to solicit sanctions, blockades, or different hostile actions” in opposition to Hong Kong and China from overseas governments, a violation of the Nationwide Safety Legislation. Prosecutor Anthony Chau referenced Lai’s journey to the USA 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. vp.

In testimony final yr, Lai denied asking something particular of Pence. He mentioned 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 mentioned he wouldn't have inspired overseas sanctions after the legislation was enacted on June 30, 2020.

The U.S. authorities has known as for Lai’s launch as not too long ago as February. The Chinese language Overseas Ministry mentioned the U.S. remarks have been “overtly supporting anti-China and Hong Kong-disrupting component Jimmy Lai.”

Closing arguments within the trial have been postponed twice final week, on Thursday for unhealthy climate and on Friday to handle issues about Lai’s well being. Lai had reported experiencing coronary heart “palpitations” and feeling like he may collapse, his lawyer mentioned.

Lai’s well being has been a longstanding concern for his household and supporters. In February, his son Sebastien mentioned 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 mentioned that Lai had been prescribed remedy and was carrying a coronary heart charge monitoring gadget throughout courtroom proceedings. The prosecution’s opening assertion is anticipated to wrap up Tuesday.