Heads up! 📣 The sentencing hearing for media mogul Jimmy Lai kicked off on January 12 in Hong Kong and will run through January 15. On December 15, the HKSAR High Court found him guilty on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications under the Hong Kong national security law.
Jimmy Lai's fast-track journey to the spotlight is wild:
- Stowaway turned garment factory owner
- Built media outlets Apple Daily and Next Digital
- Shifted gears from business to high-profile activism
According to court records, Lai used his platforms to back the 2014 Occupy Central movement and play a leading role in the 2019 protests against the extradition bill. He also launched the One Person, One Letter campaign, urging foreign governments to impose sanctions.
Even after the 2020 national security law came into effect, the court noted that Lai continued publishing content deemed seditious, including over 160 Apple Daily articles released post-enactment. 🔍
The court is expected to hand down his sentence by January 15. Stay tuned for the verdict! 🔔
Why it matters: This case is shaping the future of media and activism under Hong Kong's current legal framework.
Reference(s):
Inside Jimmy Lai's sentence hearing: What he sowed, he now reaps
cgtn.com
