"A court in Hong Kong has sentenced pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in jail following his conviction on charges of foreign collusion and seditious publication. The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper heard his sentence before three High Court judges on Monday. Lai has already spent more than five years behind bars as the trial has progressed."
"He was found guilty in December on two counts of foreign collusion under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing, as well as one count of seditious publication. Ahead of the sentencing, Western governments and rights groups called for Lai's release, with some denouncing the case as nothing but a charade. Lai's family, lawyer, supporters and former colleagues have warned that he could die in prison as he suffers from health conditions, including heart palpitations and high blood pressure."
Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after convictions for two counts of foreign collusion and one count of seditious publication under Hong Kong's national security law. Lai has already spent more than five years in custody. Western governments and rights groups urged his release and criticized the trial, while supporters warned his heart palpitations and high blood pressure put him at risk of dying in prison. Six former senior Apple Daily staffers, an activist and a paralegal face sentencing alongside him. Beijing rejected criticism as attempts to smear Hong Kong's judiciary, and Hong Kong authorities said the case is unrelated to freedom of speech.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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