Jimmy Lai, a well-known pro-democracy supporter and founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, is set to testify in a high-profile national security trial this November. Lai, 76, faces charges of sedition and colluding with foreign forces. The accusations stem from the newspaper’s support of the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and its criticism of Beijing’s leadership.
The charges against Lai include calls for international sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong officials. He has pleaded not guilty since the trial began in January. His lawyer, Robert Pang, confirmed that Lai has chosen to give evidence in the case. His testimony is expected to last for several weeks.
Lai has been detained for over 1,300 days. His trial follows Beijing’s imposition of a strict national security law aimed at quelling dissent after the 2019 protests. This law includes a charge of collusion, which can result in a life sentence.
Since January, the prosecution has presented its case against Lai and eight others by calling eight witnesses and playing over 40 hours of his talk shows and interviews. They have identified several foreign politicians and scholars, including former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, as his contacts and “agents.”
However, Lai’s lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to prove he continued to advocate for sanctions after the security law was enacted. Despite this, judges ruled against the defense, requiring Lai to respond to all charges.
Alongside Lai, the trial involves six former executives of Apple Daily, two activists, and three Apple Daily companies now controlled by the Hong Kong government.
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