Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday began hearing mitigation arguments for pro democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, bringing his landmark national security case to its final stage before sentencing in a trial that has drawn global scrutiny.
Lai, 78, could face life in prison after being convicted last month on multiple charges under the city’s sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing.
The hearing marks the last opportunity for Lai’s legal team to argue for a reduced sentence in a case widely viewed as a test of press freedom and political dissent in the China ruled city.
According to Reuters, the court previously found Lai guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiring to publish seditious material.
Judges ruled that Lai acted as the central figure behind activities they said aimed to undermine Chinese and Hong Kong authorities through the now closed Apple Daily newspaper.
During Monday’s session, Lai sat in a glass enclosed dock alongside eight other defendants, under heavy guard. Two of those present, Andy Li and Wayland Chan Tsz wah, testified for the prosecution after agreeing to cooperate with authorities.
Prosecutors pushed back against recent claims that Lai’s health had deteriorated during his time in custody.
Anthony Chau, representing the prosecution, told the court that a medical assessment dated January 9 found Lai’s condition to be stable. Chau said doctors detected no significant abnormalities after examining Lai for heart palpitations previously raised by defense lawyers last year. “After examination, no obvious abnormality was found,” Chau said, citing the medical report presented to the court.
Lai, a longtime critic of the Chinese Communist Party, founded Apple Daily, once one of Hong Kong’s most widely read newspapers. The outlet shut down in 2021 after authorities froze its assets and arrested senior staff.
Judges concluded that Lai used his media platform and public influence to campaign against Beijing, stating that his actions sought to damage the Chinese state even at the expense of Hong Kong society.
Read Also: Jimmy Lai Convicted In Hong Kong Security Law Trial
In a separate submission, lawyer Priscilia Lam requested a reduced sentence for prosecution witness Wayland Chan, arguing that his cooperation provided key evidence against Lai and others. Chan was described as a major informant whose testimony supported the government’s case.
Other cooperating witnesses included former Next Digital chief executive Cheung Kim hung, former Apple Daily associate publisher Chan Pui man, and former editorial writer Yeung Ching kee.
The court is expected to continue hearing mitigation arguments before setting a sentencing date. International governments and rights groups have repeatedly criticized the case, saying it highlights the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong since the 2019 protests.
