Overview
- Judges began hearing mitigation on Jan. 12, with arguments scheduled over four days before a sentencing date is set.
- Jimmy Lai was convicted in December of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of seditious publication.
- Under the security law, a grave collusion offense carries 10 years to life in prison, while the sedition count allows a maximum of two years.
- Lai’s lawyers highlighted diabetes, heart palpitations, sight and hearing problems, age, and extended solitary confinement; prosecutors cited a Jan. 9 medical report describing his condition as stable.
- Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists pleaded guilty, some testified for the prosecution, and their counsel sought significant sentence reductions; foreign governments and UN experts criticized the case, which Hong Kong officials defend as lawful.