(Hong Kong) The Hong Kong court on Friday rejected the request of former pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to exclude the charge of seditious publication during his trial for endangering national security which ended open Monday.
Mr. Lai, 76, is accused of “collusion” with foreign forces under a drastic national security law imposed by Beijing, and faces life in prison.
He was also charged with “conspiracy to produce seditious material”, an offense under a colonial-era law, which is considered a less serious charge because it carries a punishable sentence. shorter term of imprisonment in the event of conviction.
Lawyers for the owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, which closed in 2021, have previously argued that the sedition charge should be dismissed because the prosecution was brought too late, contrary to current criminal procedures in Hong Kong.
“We are of the opinion that the prosecution is not time-barred and therefore the defense request must be dismissed,” Judge Esther Toh said on Friday morning.
Due to the end-of-year holidays, the hearing was postponed to January 2.