Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in National Security Case
發佈日期: 2026-02-09 10:08
TVB News
Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai, convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. A panel of three High Court judges delivered sentencing this morning in the national security case.
Jimmy Lai appeared in court wearing glasses and a white jacket, seated at the front.
Apart from announcing penalties for the 78-year-old former media mogul, the court also handed down sentencing for six former senior executives of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, three related companies and two activists.
The remaining eight defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six years and three months to 10 years.
The judges said the sentencing decision runs to 47 pages and will not be read out in full in court. Bilingual versions in Chinese and English of the documents to be uploaded for public access later.
Lai, the founder of the tabloid-style newspaper, was convicted on charges including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under Beijing-decreed national security law, as well as conspiring to publish and distribute seditious material under local legislation.
Under the national security law, the collusion offences carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
Among those seen arriving at court were several foreign diplomatic representatives, including the British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao Brian Davidson — and Matthias Kaufmann, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section at the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao.
Also present in the public gallery were Cardinal Joseph Zen and Jimmy Lai’s wife, who was dressed in red. The two were seated together.
Chief Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of the police National Security Department was observed at the scene.
Chan Pui-man’s husband Chung Pui-kuen was also spotted in the court.
