Hong Kong to sentence media mogul Jimmy Lai on national security conviction

Lai’s case has been condemned internationally by free speech advocates, human rights groups and global leaders.Published On 6 Feb 2026Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai will be sentenced following his conviction in a national security trial, according to the Chinese self-governing territory’s judiciary.The judiciary said on Friday on its website that it’s calling for the sentencing session on Monday morning.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Hong Kong court convicts democracy activist Jimmy Lai on conspiracy chargeslist 2 of 4Jimmy Lai supporters queue outside Hong Kong court ahead of verdictlist 3 of 4Hong Kong begins national security trial for organisers of Tiananmen vigilslist 4 of 4Taiwan’s opposition launches ‘symbolic’ campaign to impeach presidentend of listThe 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was found guilty in December of foreign collusion under the city’s sweeping national security law, which Beijing imposed following huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.He was also found guilty of one count of seditious publication and could face life in prison.Global leaders, including United States President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have called for Lai’s release, while rights groups say his trial is a death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong.Lai, a British citizen, has been behind bars since 2020, and multiple Western nations have called for his release.Defence lawyers conceded in January the “grave nature” of the case, which found Lai guilty of calling for foreign sanctions.He will be sentenced on Monday alongside eight co-defendants, including six Apple Daily executives.All defendants except Lai pleaded guilty, while some testified against him, which would entitle them to shorter sentences, the lawyers said last month.International condemnationThe judges wrote in their 856-page verdict in December that Lai “harboured his resentment and hatred of (China) for many of his adult years” and sought the “downfall of the Chinese Communist Party”.