Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai indicted under national security law

 

Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong tycoon and figure of the pro-democracy struggle, was indicted on Friday December 11, 2020 under the National Security Act for “collusion with foreign powers”, as prosecutions against dissidents in the country multiply. former British colony. “Following a thorough investigation by the police responsible for national security, a 73-year-old man is charged with collusion with a foreign country or with outside forces in order to compromise national securityPolice said in a statement.

Jimmy Lai, 73, is to date the best-known Hong Kong figure to be accused of breaking the drastic national security law imposed at the end of June by Beijing in order to end the monster pro-democracy protests that rocked the territory. semi-autonomous last year. Offenses related to this draconian legislation are punishable by life imprisonment.

A spectacular search

Tabloid boss Apple DailyJimmy Lai is known for his commitment to the pro-democracy camp and his harsh criticism of the Hong Kong executive, aligned with Beijing, and is due to appear in court on Saturday for breaking this law, according to police. Last week, he was remanded in custody as part of a fraud investigation. He is due in the High Court on Tuesday to request bail on this count.

Hundreds of police officers carried out a spectacular search in August, in particular in the newsroom of theApple Daily. Several leaders of the press group, including Jimmy Lai, were arrested on suspicion of “collusion with foreign forces” under the national security law. The mogul is the fourth person accused of breaking this controversial new law. Among them is a 19-year-old activist, accused of having encouraged secession, a man who drove a motorbike at police during a demonstration, and a man who repeatedly chanted pro-democracy slogans in police direction.

You may also like

USA
Markets
Joshua

USA

The ISM manufacturing PMI remained in contraction territory below 50 in April. The dollar index remains in positive territory about