Jimmy Lai's national security trial adjourned until monday over his health condition
發佈日期: 2025-08-15 19:56
TVB News
The national security trial for the former media tycoon Jimmy Lai is in its final stage.
However, the judge postponed the closing statements until next Monday, after taking Lai's health issues into consideration.
There was a heavy security presence outside the West Kowloon Court as Jimmy Lai was taken there by a prison van this morning.
Lai was charged with colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials, charges of which he pleaded not guilty. Lai's wife and son came to the court.
Before the court, Lai's defence sought permission for Lai's absence from the closing argument proceedings because of his heart condition, but was rejected by the judges.
Inside the court, the defense revealed that the 77-year-old had been experiencing heart palpitations in custody, adding there were "cases where he felt he was collapsing."
Esther Toh, one of the three judges, said no abnormalities were found from Lai's blood test and heart activity, and Lai refused to wear a Holter monitor, a portable device to track his heart's rhythm while court proceedings.
The defense said Lai was willing to wear the device and take medication, adding there might have been some misunderstanding.
The defense explained Lai did not want any "undue attention" to his health and any delay in the final submission, so they applied for absence from the remainder of the trial.
Another judge Remedios said Lai should be present as the closing statement submission is part of the trial.
The prosecutors said a team of medical professionals were on standby.
But Judge Esther Toh said she was not comfortable to proceed with the trial, and decided to postpone the hearing until next Monday when Lai will wear a heartbeat detector.
The hearing for closing statements was initially scheduled for Thursday but was delayed due to poor weather.
