A Hong Kong court has delivered a guilty verdict against media mogul Jimmy Lai, finding him guilty of national security offences including collusion with foreign forces and sedition. The 78-year-old founder of the outspoken Apple Daily newspaper, who has openly criticized Beijing for years, denied all charges. The judges stated they found sufficient evidence that Lai conspired with others to seek foreign intervention aimed at destabilizing China and challenging the Communist Party. This case has become a focal point for international scrutiny regarding Hong Kong’s autonomy, press freedoms, and the integrity of its legal system. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union have closely followed the proceedings. Evidence presented by prosecutors included Lai’s past meetings with senior US figures and articles published by his newspaper. Lai faces a potential life sentence for the collusion charge and up to two years for sedition. The specific sentence will be decided later. Apple Daily was shut down in 2021 following government actions that included asset freezes and arrests of staff. Lai has been detained since August 2020 and is already serving time for fraud and unauthorized assembly convictions. His family has expressed concern over his health during his detention.
