Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction and 20-year jail term for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and sedition, according to multiple reports. Members of Lai's international legal team confirmed that their domestic counterparts received clear instructions from Lai not to lodge an appeal against the conviction or sentence.
Key Takeaways
Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction under the city's national security law. His legal team confirmed he gave clear instructions not to appeal his 20-year sentence for conspiracy charges.
- Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction and 20-year jail term
- Lai was convicted of conspiracy with others to publish seditious material and collude with foreign forces
- Rights groups and the United Nations have condemned his conviction, calling it incompatible with international law
- Lai's health has reportedly deteriorated in prison, raising concerns about his well-being
- Hong Kong authorities maintain that he is being treated fairly under the national security law
Lai was convicted in December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. His 20-year sentence, handed down last month, is the harshest punishment under Hong Kong's national security law imposed by China after the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Lai has consistently denied the charges, maintaining that he never used his foreign contacts to influence foreign policy on Hong Kong. His case hinged on a meeting with former US Vice President Mike Pence and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Rights groups and the United Nations' human rights chief Volker Türk have condemned Lai's conviction, calling for it to be quashed as incompatible with international law. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has applauded the sentencing, stating that Lai's 'evil deeds were beyond measure.' Critics argue that the national security law has been used for repression and created a climate of fear in the city.
Lai's family members have expressed concerns about his deteriorating health in prison. Reports indicate that his fingernails sometimes fall off, and his teeth are rotten. Hong Kong authorities deny these allegations, asserting that Lai is in good health. Last month, a separate fraud conviction against Lai was overturned on appeal.
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