L'Unità: Jimmy Lai non ricorre in appello, l’attivista pro-democrazia di Hong Kong condannato a 20 anni rischia di morire in cella

Salvo clamorosi colpi di scena, che al momento non si vedono all’orizzonte, Jimmy Lai trascorrerà il resto della sua vita in carcere. L’imprenditore e attivista per la democrazia di Hong Kong ha deciso di non ricorrere in appello contro la condanna a 20 anni di reclusione che gli è stata inflitta a febbraio in un processo per “cospirazione” legato all’introduzione nell’ex colonia britannica delle nuove leggi liberticide sulla sicurezza nazionale imposte da Pechino.
A renderlo noto è stato il quotidiano locale South China Morning Post, citando le dichiarazioni di uno degli avvocati di Lai. Il termine per la presentazione del ricorso è fissato entro 28 giorni dalla sentenza e scadrà lunedì 9 marzo, ma Lai non ha intenzione di opporsi alla condanna.
Nel processo all’ex magnate dell’editoria, tre giudici della Corte di primo grado hanno stabilito che Lai ha utilizzato il suo giornale Apple Daily, fondato nel 1995 e chiuso nel 2021, e la sua rete di contatti internazionali, per promuovere sanzioni contro il governo della Cina e l’amministrazione di Hong Kong. Con Lai sono stati condannati sei ex dirigenti del quotidiano indipendente, con pene che vanno dai 6 anni e nove mesi ai 10 anni di reclusione, mentre due attivisti sono stati condannati fino a 7 anni e 3 mesi per lo stesso reato. I giudici avevano inoltre imposto multe per 1,15 milioni di dollari a tre aziende responsabili delle operazioni del giornale.
Quella di Lai è stata una condanna di fatto all’ergastolo: l’attivista ha 78 anni, è recluso dal 2020 e non tiene conto delle condizioni precarie di salute dell’imprenditore, malato di diabete e che in questi anni di carcere ha sofferto di palpitazioni, col regime che non ha consentito visite da parte di medici esterni.
Lo scorso 26 febbraio Lai aveva ottenuto a sorpresa una sentenza favorevole dall’Alta Corte di Hong Kong, che aveva annullato una condanna per truffa nei confronti dell’attivista. La decisione riguarda una sentenza a 5 anni e nove mesi di reclusione emessa nel dicembre del 2022 per una violazione relativa a un contratto d’affitto della sede del quotidiano Apple Daily.

Jimmy Lai will not appeal, the pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong sentenced to 20 years risks dying in prison.

Unless there are dramatic twists of events that don’t currently appear on the horizon, Jimmy Lai will spend the rest of his life in prison. The businessman and pro-democracy activist for Hong Kong has decided not to appeal against the sentence of 20 years imprisonment handed down in February as part of a trial for “conspiracy” related to the introduction of Beijing’s new national security laws, which are restrictive, into the former British colony.

This was revealed by the local South China Morning Post newspaper, citing the statements of one of Lai’s lawyers. The deadline for submitting an appeal is set within 28 days of the verdict and expires Monday, March 9th, but Lai has no intention of opposing the sentence.

At the trial of the former media magnate, three judges of the District Court established that Lai had used his newspaper, Apple Daily, founded in 1995 and closed in 2021, and his international network of contacts to promote sanctions against the Chinese government and the administration of Hong Kong. Six former executives of the independent newspaper were sentenced, with prison terms ranging from 6 years and 9 months to 10 years, while two activists were sentenced to up to 7 years and 3 months for the same offense. The judges also imposed fines of $1.15 million on three companies responsible for the newspaper’s operations.

Lai’s sentence was effectively a life sentence: the activist is 78 years old, has been imprisoned since 2020, and does not take into account the precarious health conditions of the businessman, who suffers from diabetes and has suffered from palpitations in recent years, with the regime not allowing visits by external doctors.

On February 26th, Lai surprisingly obtained a favorable ruling from the High Court of Hong Kong, which overturned a sentence for fraud against the activist. The decision concerned a sentence of 5 years and 9 months imprisonment issued in December 2022 related to a breach concerning a lease agreement for the Apple Daily newspaper’s headquarters.

#JimmyLai #HongKong #Beijing #British #SouthChina #theDistrictCourt #AppleDaily #Chinese

https://www.unita.it/2026/03/06/jimmy-lai-non-ricorre-appello-condanna-attivista-hong-kong/

Jimmy Lai non ricorre in appello, l’attivista pro-democrazia di Hong Kong condannato a 20 anni rischia di morire in cella

Salvo clamorosi colpi di scena, che al momento non si vedono all’orizzonte, Jimmy Lai trascorrerà il resto della sua vita in carcere. L’imprenditore e attivista per la democrazia di Hong Kong ha deciso di non ricorrere in appello contro la condanna a 20 anni di reclusione che gli è stata inflitta a febbraio in un […]

L'Unità
Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's fraud conviction and prison sentence were overturned by a Hong Kong court on Thursday, in a surprise legal decision soon after Lai was jailed on a separate national security charge. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/26/asia-pacific/crime-legal/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-fraud-conviction/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #hongkong #china #jimmylai #appledaily
Hong Kong court overturns China critic Jimmy Lai's fraud conviction in rare victory

Lai will still remain imprisoned for 20 years in a separate national security case.

The Japan Times
For Hong Kong journalists, this week's sentencing of pro-democracy newspaper head Jimmy Lai affirms a climate of fear and self-censorship in the years since Beijing imposed a national security law. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/12/asia-pacific/politics/hong-kong-jimmy-lai/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #hongkong #china #journalism #censorship #jimmylai #appledaily
Hong Kong journalists face ‘precarious’ future after Jimmy Lai jailed

Media bosses 'increasingly see themselves as an extension of the government propaganda arm,' said Selina Cheng, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

The Japan Times
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China is signaling greater efforts to protect national security in Hong Kong after the sentencing of former media mogul Jimmy Lai renewed foreign governments’ calls for his release. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/10/asia-pacific/politics/china-hong-kong-jimmy-lai-outcry/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #politics #hongkong #china #democracy #jimmylai #appledaily
China to deepen Hong Kong security focus as Jimmy Lai case stirs outcry

Beijing’s State Council has outlined plans to strengthen security in the city, naming finance and shipping among areas of focus.

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Free #JimmyLai <3 #AppleDaily #democracy #journalism #HongKong
Distant Apple orchards seem unrelated to us. Yet if we fail to cherish and nurture them, they can easily disappear. Therefore, this is a vital matter concerning our OWN orchards.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/09/jimmy-lai-sentencing-china-hong-kong-pro-democracy-businessman
Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong pro-democracy figure, faces sentencing over national security charges

The media tycoon, who was first arrested in 2020, could face life in prison in blow for press freedom following conviction in December

The Guardian
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A Hong Kong court sentenced former media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, giving the pro-democracy advocate the heaviest penalty ever meted out under a Beijing-imposed national security law. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/09/asia-pacific/crime-legal/hong-kong-jimmy-lai-20-years/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #crimelegal #jimmylai #hongkong #china #appledaily #democracy
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai given 20 years’ prison after national security trial

The founder of the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper was first arrested in August 2020 and was ​convicted last year.

The Japan Times

Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes

A Hong Kong court sentenced former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison on Monday…
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https://www.newsbeep.com/390062/

After years of legal battles, Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces sentencing

Lai's plight has been criticized by global leaders spotlighting a yearslong crackdown following mass pro-democracy protests in ‍2019.

The Japan Times