In Hong Kong, the main trial against opposition media magnate Jimmy Lai, under national security law and which had already been adjourned ten days ago, has just been postponed to September 2023. accused, aged 75, is entering his third year behind bars and has just received a new sentence of 69 months in prison, three days ago.
With our correspondent in Hong Kong, Florence de Changy
Tuesday morning December 13, at the High Court of Hong Kong, Jimmy Lai is a new time in the glass box of the defendants, surrounded by five young guards in khaki coveralls. His wife and daughter are a few meters from him, on the bench reserved for the family.
The session is presided over by three judges, two women and a man, in red togas, black stoles, and roller wigs. They were selected one by one for their loyalty to the authorities. The session will be short. After a break to allow the prosecution and defense to agree on the schedule of upcoming sessions, the Court announces that the trial is postponed to September 2023.
► To read also: Hong Kong: new conviction for pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai
By then, we should know the decision of Beijing as to the possibility for Jimmy Lai to have a British lawyer for his defense. The High Court and the Court of Final Appeal had ruled in favor of Jimmy Lai, to the chagrin of the government, which suddenly decided to ask Beijing to arbitrate. But pending Beijing’s decision, the government has refused the famous lawyer his visa, a radical way of preventing him from defending Jimmy Lai.
Today marks 75th anniversary of #JimmyLai. Today Jimmy could be sat on a beach enjoying his wealth & freedom overseas. Instead he spends his birthday in jail, facing a political show trial, for daring to advocate for a free press, democracy, & the rights of all #HongKongers. pic.twitter.com/wLWTGPCqJO
—Hong Kong Watch (@hk_watch) December 8, 2022