""a dark day for anyone who believes in truth, freedom and justice," Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, said in a press release. "It signifies the total destruction of the Hong Kong legal system and the end of justice," he said, calling for Chinese authorities to release his father "before it is too late.""
""heartbreakingly cruel." "I have watched my father's health deteriorate dramatically If this sentence is carried out, he will die a martyr behind bars," she said."
"Following Lai's verdict, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said it "upheld justice" and was "deeply gratifying." China's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said it showed that anyone who dares challenge laws safeguarding national security "will certainly be severely punished.""
Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon, received a 20-year prison sentence on three national security charges, potentially amounting to a life sentence. The verdict was delivered in under five minutes and concluded a nearly five-year, high-profile legal saga that began with Lai's August 2020 arrest. Convictions included two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications; Lai pleaded not guilty. Family members condemned the ruling and warned of severe health consequences. Government authorities praised the decision as upholding national security and justice, while many Hong Kong residents expressed frustration.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]