The 77-year-old founding father of the Apple Every day newspaper is charged with overseas collusion over 2019 protests.
Hong Kong judges have postponed the trial of media tycoon Jimmy Lai till he is supplied with a coronary heart monitoring system and associated remedy.
Friday’s determination marked the second delay to the case this week after his lawyer mentioned he had suffered coronary heart palpitations.
The 77-year-old founding father of the Apple Every day newspaper is charged with overseas collusion beneath Hong Kong’s nationwide safety legislation, which Beijing imposed following widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Closing arguments within the long-running trial had been initially anticipated to start on Thursday, however all courtroom periods had been suspended as a result of dangerous climate.
Because the courtroom resumed on Friday, defence lawyer Robert Pang mentioned that Lai had coronary heart “palpitations” and had skilled the sensation of “collapsing”, however added that the tycoon didn’t need consideration to be targeting his well being.
Lai has been saved behind bars since December 2020, reportedly in solitary confinement, and issues have beforehand been raised over the septuagenarian’s welfare.
‘The world is watching’
The three-judge panel adjourned the case to Monday to permit time for jail authorities to outfit Lai with a wearable coronary heart monitor and supply remedy.
The sprawling trial, which started in December 2023, is getting into its remaining phases as Western nations and rights teams proceed to name for Lai’s launch.
Apart from the collusion cost – which may land him in jail for all times – Lai can be charged with “seditious publication” associated to 161 op-eds carrying his byline.
The Committee to Shield Journalists (CPJ) mentioned on Thursday that “the world is watching how Hong Kong treats its journalists”.
“The extended detention of Jimmy Lai not solely destroys Hong Kong’s historic repute as a free and open society, but additionally as a trusted hub for enterprise,” mentioned CPJ regional director Beh Lih Yi.
US President Donald Trump informed a Fox Information radio programme on Thursday that he had beforehand introduced up the Lai case with Chinese language President Xi Jinping.
“I’m going to do every thing I can to save lots of him … you can additionally perceive President Xi wouldn’t be precisely thrilled,” the outlet quoted Trump as saying.
The Hong Kong authorities mentioned on Wednesday it “strongly disapproved and rejected the slanderous remarks made by exterior forces” concerning Lai’s case.
Lai is a British citizen and his son Sebastien reiterated in March requires the Keir Starmer administration to do extra, saying: “I don’t need my father to die in jail.”
Two prosecution witnesses, Chan Tsz-wah and Andy Li, additionally accused Lai of financially backing an advocacy group that ran abroad newspaper commercials supporting the 2019 protests.
Lai has denied calling for sanctions towards China and Hong Kong and mentioned he by no means advocated separatism.
Apple Every day was compelled to shut in 2021 after police raids and the arrests of its senior editors.
