Full report: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years over national security charges

Full report: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years over national security charges

Read moreShare30m ago21.55 ESTThe International Press Institute has also issued a statement criticising Jimmy Lai’s 20-year prison sentence, saying:

"The IPI global network stands together in strongly condemning this outrageous and inhumane prison sentence for Jimmy Lai. This sentence only shows the lengths Chinese authorities will go to stifle press freedom and democracy in Hong Kong. Jimmy’s unwavering commitment to press freedom — in the face of brutal conditions — has made him a powerful symbol of courage and resilience worldwide. IPI will continue to work with our press freedom allies around the world to push for his immediate release. We strongly urge the UK, US.and other states to use all diplomatic means at their disposal to secure Lai’s release on humanitarian grounds.”

41m ago21.43 ESTHuman Rights Watch on Jimmy Lai's sentence: 'Effectively a death sentence'The Human Rights Watch has condemned Jimmy Lai’s 20-year prison sentence, saying that it is “effectively a death sentence.”

In a statement released shortly after the 78-year old former media mogul was handed his sentence, Elaine Pearson, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch said:

“The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust. Lai’s years of persecution show the Chinese government’s determination to crush independent journalism and silence anyone who dares to criticize the Communist Party.”

45m ago21.40 ESTHong Kong court not inclined to give Jimmy Lai sentence deductions due to health conditionsMeanwhile, the Hong Kong court said that it is not inclined to give Jimmy Lai any deductions in his prison sentence due to the 78-year old’s medical conditions.

In December, Lai’s family raised alarm over his deteriorating health, with the former media mogul’s children pointing to his dramatic weight loss, as well as declining dental conditions and nails turning green before falling off.

Speaking to Agence France-Presse last December, Lai’s daughter Claire said: “He has lost a very significant amount of weight, visibly, and he is a lot weaker than he was before.”

49m ago21.36 ESTJimmy Lai on whether he will appeal: 'No comment'Jimmy Lai, who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, did not provide details on whether he will appeal his sentence handed down by the Hong Kong court.

“No comment,” the 78-year old said.

51m ago21.33 ESTReporters Without Borders: 'Today the curtain falls on press freedom in Hong Kong'Reporters Without Borders has issued a statement condemning Jimmy Lai’s 20-year prison sentence.

Thibaut Bruttin, the nonprofit organization’s head, said:

“Today, the curtain falls on press freedom in Hong Kong. We are outraged by the harsh sentences handed down to Jimmy Lai. This court decision underscores the complete collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong and the authorities’ profound contempt for independent journalism.

From Lai’s arrest to his trial and conviction, this legal process has been nothing more than a sham. Democracies, such as the UK and the US, must stop prioritising the normalisation of relations with China and instead exert pressure on the Chinese regime and Hong Kong authorities to ensure that Jimmy Lai and all other journalists are released from prison.”

In reference to Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel laureate and political prisoner who died in Chinese custody in 2017 after his arrest by Chinese authorities in 2009 on suspicion of “inciting subversion of state power,” Bruttin added:

“We have already witnessed press freedom defender Liu Xiaobo die in prison due to insufficient international pressure. We cannot allow Jimmy Lai to suffer a similar fate. His sentence must not become a death sentence.”

1h ago21.27 ESTHong Kong court says Jimmy Lai was 'mastermind' in foreign collusion conspiraciesAccording to the Hong Kong court, Jimmy Lai’s foreign collusion conspiracies were “well planned” and “premeditated.”

The court added that Lai’s offenses were of a “grave nature” and that the conspiracies he had been found guilty of were of the “most serious” category.”

Moreover, the court said that Lai’s 20-year prison sentence was enhanced by the fact that he was the “mastermind” and driving force behind foreign collusion conspiracies.

Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty last December of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, as well as one count of publishing seditious materials.

Lai, who has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist party, was arrested in August 2020 following Beijing’s imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong in response to the city’s pro-democracy protests at the time.

1h ago21.23 ESTJimmy Lai’s wife, Teresa, is reported to have left the courthouse following her husband’s sentencing to 20 years in prison.

The BBC reports that Teresa wore dark sunglasses and tried to hold back tears as she exited.

1h ago21.15 ESTFollowing Jimmy Lai’s sentencing, the 78-year old former media mogul smiled and waved at the public gallery, the New York Times reports.

According to the outlet, Lai’s wife, Teresa, sat expressionless and had her arms folded. Others weeped in the courtroom.

Meanwhile, Esther Toh, one of the government-vetted judges overseeing Lai’s sentencing, said that she would not read the 47-page sentencing document and instead said that it will be made publicly available shortly after proceedings end, the Hong Kong Free Press reports.

1h ago21.07 EST78-year old Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 yearsJimmy Lai, 78-years old, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts.

Updated at 21.12 EST1h ago21.03 ESTJudges enters courtroom for Jimmy Lai's sentencingThe judges overseeing Jimmy Lai’s sentencing have entered the courtroom.

1h ago21.01 ESTJimmy Lai enters court for his sentencingJimmy Lai has entered court for sentencing in his national security trial.

View image in fullscreenA prison van part of the convoy carrying Jimmy Lai arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates Courts where the sentencing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai will take place in Hong Kong, February 9, 2025. Photograph: Vernon Yuen/Nexpher/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockShare1h ago20.59 ESTHere are some more images coming through the newswires from Hong Kong where Jimmy Lai is expected to be sentenced soon:

The Guardian’s Helen Davidson and Amy Hawkins chronicle Lai’s rise and fall:

Lai’s trial was one of the last unfinished national security prosecutions of Hong Kong’s high profile activists, over their involvement in the 2019 protests. Hundreds of activists, lawyers, and politicians have been pursued and jailed, or chased into exile. But few have captured global attention like Lai, whose life and career has developed in tangent with Hong Kong’s sputtering walk towards democracy, and then its fall.

“The trajectory of his life reflects the history of Hong Kong itself,” said Kevin Yam, a Australian-Hong Kong lawyer, who is subject to a Hong Kong arrest warrant for his pro-democracy activism.

For the full story, click here:

Read moreShareUpdated at 20.52 EST2h ago20.29 ESTGeneva AbdulThe British son of the jailed Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai has criticised the UK government for failing to place conditions on his father’s release during the prime minister’s visit to China last week.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, Sebastien Lai said his father’s incarceration was not only a humanitarian and national security issue, but an issue “where our values are being locked up” along with him.

The remarks come after the first trip to China by a UK leader in eight years, during which Keir Starmer is said to have raised the case of the former media tycoon and one of Hong Kong’s most significant pro-democracy voices.

Weeks before the prime minister’s visit, it is understood Lai met with the foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, and discussed the importance of his father’s case as well as the 78-year-old’s deteriorating health in solitary confinement.

“If it is so important then surely there should be some conditionalities put on my father’s release. The trip was a big thing to have been given away, the embassy as well,” said Lai, speaking at an all-party parliamentary group on arbitrary detention and hostage affairs hearing on his father’s case.

For the full story, click here:

Read moreShare2h ago20.26 ESTHere are some images coming through the newswires from Hong Kong where Jimmy Lai is expected to be sentenced later today:

Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty last December of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, as well as one count of publishing seditious materials.

At the time of his verdict, Esther Toh, one of the three government-vetted national security judges who oversaw Lai’s trial, wrote: “There is no doubt in our mind that the first defendant never wavered in his intention to destabilise the governance of the CCP [Chinese Communist party], and despite the enactment of the national security law, he was intent on continuing, though in a less explicit way.”

Lai, who has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist party, was arrested in August 2020 following Beijing’s imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong in response to the city’s pro-democracy protests at the time.

Lai’s arrest and conviction had been widely monitored and criticised by the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

In December, US president Donald Trump urged Chinese president Xi Jinping to “consider” releasing Lai, saying: “I feel so badly… He’s an older man and he’s not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens, okay?”. Meanwhile, upon returning from his trip to China last month, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, told UK parliament: “I raised the case of Jimmy Lai and called for his release.”

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates from Lai’s sentencing.