Overview
- Three High Court judges began hearing sentencing arguments on Jan. 12, with mitigation scheduled to run four days and no sentencing date yet set.
- Jimmy Lai was convicted in December of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material, carrying a potential life term under the national security law.
- Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists pleaded guilty, some served as prosecution witnesses, and judges confirmed two co-defendants’ guilty pleas at the opening of the hearing.
- The verdict drew criticism from the U.S., Britain and the European Union, UN experts urged humanitarian relief, and Hong Kong authorities maintain the prosecution is lawful and necessary for stability.
- Detained since 2020 with extended solitary confinement reported, Lai’s family cites deteriorating health, while officials point to medical examinations stating his condition is stable.