Media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai pleaded not guilty to all charges as his national security trial resumed in Hong Kong.
The 76-year-old, facing potential life imprisonment, responded with "not guilty" to charges brought under the 2021 national security law and a colonial-era sedition law. Lai, donning a white shirt and navy blue jacket, stood in the defendant's dock surrounded by prison guards. The charges include conspiracy to commit foreign collusion and conspiring to publish seditious material.
Lai's legal team sought to dismiss the latter charge based on the statute of limitations, but the judges rejected the request. Lead prosecutor Anthony Chau referred to Lai as the "mastermind" using his media platform to pursue a political agenda, alleging collusion with foreign entities and endangering national security.
The trial, marked by delays, commenced last month, with Lai having been in jail since December 2020 on unrelated charges. Lai and his Apple Daily newspaper played a prominent role in supporting Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, which faced a crackdown with the introduction of the national security law in 2020. Critics argue that the law is overly broad, enabling authorities to suppress dissent and opposition.