End of Jimmy Lai's Journey: Hong Kong Media Tycoon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

JAKARTA - A court in Hong Kong has sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai to a total of 20 years in prison in a case of violating national security laws.

Jimmy Lai was found guilty of three charges, namely two charges of conspiracy with foreign powers and one charge of publishing material deemed subversive.

Quoted from Reuters, Monday, February 9, this case is the most prominent national security case that Hong Kong has handled since the regulation was enacted.

The verdict closes a legal process that has lasted nearly five years. The founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper was first arrested in August 2020.

The court previously found Jimmy Lai guilty of all charges on December 15.

Since his arrest, he has been detained and has undergone a series of trials that have captured the attention of the international public, especially regarding press freedom and the space for expression in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai's case is often seen as a symbol of the changing political and legal landscape in the Asian financial hub, as the local authorities tighten the application of national security laws.