Jimmy Lai's mitigation hearing continued today (Jan. 13) for the second day. Security measures outside the court were significantly heightened, with dozens of police officers wearing anti-stab tactical vests patrolling the area. Several police vehicles, including the armored "Sabretooth" vehicle, were stationed on the traffic lanes beneath the Tung Chau Street flyover.
In addition, police set up roadblocks, requiring all vehicles entering the court premises to undergo security inspections, such as checks by explosive detection dogs, metal detectors, and undercarriage mirrors.
At around 8:30 a.m., the armoured prison van carrying Jimmy Lai arrived at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts (temporarily sharing the duties of the High Court). Armed members of the Counter Terrorism Response Unit were on guard.
Jimmy Lai, the founder of Next Digital and a key figure accused of inciting unrest in Hong Kong, was found guilty on charges of conspiring to collude with external forces to endanger national security and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.
Lai, along with eight other co-defendants who have pleaded guilty, began their plea hearings yesterday (Jan. 12) at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts. The case is being heard by three judges designated under the Hong Kong National Security Law: Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana Maria D'Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang.
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