Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Media, was found guilty last month by the court on two charges: conspiracy to collude with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security, and conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer to sell, distribute, display, and/or reproduce seditious publications. Starting today (Jan. 12), the court will hear Lai's plea along with the pleas of eight other defendants, including six former senior executives of Apple Daily, who have already pleaded guilty. The session is scheduled to last four days.
The judiciary announced that 491 public seats, along with 100 backup seats, have been allocated for today's court session, which will take place alongside seven extended hearings. Security measures outside the court have been significantly enhanced, with dozens of police officers in anti-stab tactical vests patrolling the area. Several police vehicles, including a Sword Toothed Tiger Armored Vehicle, are parked on the roadway beneath the flyover on Tung Chau Street.
At the same time, the police have set up roadblocks, and all vehicles entering the court will need to undergo security checks, including inspections with bomb-sniffing dogs, metal detectors, and reflective mirrors to check under vehicles.
(Case number: HCCC51/2022)
Related News:
Comment