Jimmy Lai admits to seeking US support and funding foreign commentator
The founder of Next Media, Jimmy Lai, known for his anti-China stance and efforts to destabilize Hong Kong, is facing charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. In July, three judges unanimously ruled that all charges against him were substantiated.
Lai has stated that he will defend himself in court, while the three companies involved as co-defendants will not call any witnesses. The trial is expected to last about a month. Today, the case resumed at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts (acting as the High Court), with Lai's wife and daughter present in the audience.
Admission of funding foreign commentators
During his self-defense in court, Lai admitted to funding a foreign commentator with £20,000 (approximately HK$197,000). He testified that he had known this commentator for eight years and had met him in person. Additionally, Lai acknowledged that he had traveled to the US in 2019 to seek support from American officials and politicians, including meetings with then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Rumors from 'foreign legal team' discredited
Previously, claims from a so-called "foreign legal team" alleged that Lai was being treated inhumanely in prison. In response, the Robertsons Solicitors issued a clarification on Sept. 27, confirming that Lai had not faced any unfair treatment while incarcerated and that these accusations were unfounded. Observers noted during today's proceedings that Lai appeared of average build and not overly thin, further disproving the rumors propagated by the "foreign legal team."
Use of newspapers to publish seditious material
The prosecution presented substantial evidence, including communications, articles, documents, social media posts, and video clips totaling 35 hours, asserting that Lai was a mastermind and radical political figure who used newspapers to disseminate 161 seditious publications. These materials called for protests urged sanctions, and incited hatred against the central and local governments. Lai also created an English-language platform to engage with US officials, and the list of political figures he followed on Twitter (now X) was presented as evidence. Furthermore, it was indicated that he continued to direct operations even after his arrest.
The prosecution argued that Lai and his co-defendants had reached a criminal agreement before the National Security Law took effect and continued their plans afterward. Lai, along with three companies, faces charges of conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, or reproduce seditious publications, as well as conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces endangering national security. Lai alone faces an additional charge of conspiracy to collude with foreign or external forces.
Under Article 29 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, those convicted of such crimes face a prison term of 3 to 10 years; in cases of severe offenses, sentences can range from life imprisonment to over 10 years.
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