Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai denied bail in nationwide safety case

Hong Kong’s high court docket denied bail on Tuesday to media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, essentially the most high-profile particular person to be charged below the town’s nationwide safety legislation.
Lai had been in custody since Dec. 3, apart from when he was launched on bail for a few week late final 12 months. He was granted a HK$10 million ($1.3 million) bail by a decrease court docket on Dec. 23 just for the Court of Final Appeal (CFA) to deliver him again into custody on Dec. 31 for an additional listening to.
His return to custody was associated to Article 42 of the safety legislation, which says that “no bail shall be granted to a criminal suspect or defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing that the criminal suspect or defendant will not continue to commit acts endangering national security”.
On Tuesday, the CFA stated the decrease court docket utilized an “erroneous line of reasoning” and “misconstrued” Article 42. The determination was unanimous.
Lai was arrested in August when about 200 cops raided the newsroom of his Apple Daily tabloid newspaper. Beijing imposed the sweeping nationwide safety legislation on the previous British colony in June 2020 after months of pro-democracy protests.
The legislation punishes something China considers subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with international forces with as much as life in jail. Critics say it’s geared toward crushing dissent and it erodes freedoms within the semi-autonomous, Chinese-ruled metropolis.
Its supporters say it restores stability after months of unrest. Prosecutors have accused Lai of breaching the legislation over statements he made on July 30 and Aug. 18, during which they allege he requested international interference in Hong Kong’s affairs.

Under the brand new legislation, the onus is on the defendant to show they might not be a nationwide safety risk if launched on bail. Under Hong Kong’s frequent law-based authorized system, the onus has historically been on the prosecution to show its case.
The tycoon has been a frequent customer to Washington, assembly with officers, together with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to rally help for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a “traitor”.

Lai stepped down final 12 months as chairman of Next Digital, which publishes Apple Daily, a preferred tabloid newspaper identified for its feisty and important protection of China and Hong Kong.