Hong Kong courtroom says Jimmy Lai's bail denied because threat of further offences
24 February, 2021
A Hong Kong courtroom said on Tuesday (Feb 23) that its denial of bail for mass media tycoon Jimmy Lai, the virtually all high-profile person charged beneath the national security regulation, was because of the risk of his committing further offences.
High Courtroom judge Anthea Pang rejected Lai's latest application the other day but simply made public the reasons on her behalf decision on Tuesday.
The case has been closely watched since it shows how Hong Kong's independent judiciary resolves any conflicts between your security law drafted in Beijing - where courts come beneath the Communist Get together - and the city's common law traditions.
The new regulation puts the onus on the defendant to prove they would not be a countrywide security threat if released on bail. Under Hong Kong's prevalent law-based legal program, the onus has typically been on the prosecution to verify its case.
"If one was determined, the foreseeable threat of being discovered might not be a bar to action," Pang's written judgement said.
"I am not satisfied that there are satisfactory grounds for believing that the Applicant won't continue to commit works endangering national secureness if bail is granted to him."
Lai was arrested in August on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces when about 200 cops raided the newsroom of his Apple Daily tabloid newspaper. He was arrested again last week, while in jail, on suspicion of assisting a fugitive China captured at sea last year.
Beijing imposed the national security law on the ex - British colony last June after a few months of protests. Regulations punishes anything China considers subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with overseas forces with up to life in prison.
Critics say it really is targeted at crushing dissent and it again erodes freedoms found in the semi-autonomous financial hub. Its supporters declare it restores steadiness after a few months of unrest.
Prosecutors have got accused Lai of breaching the law above statements he made on Jul 30 and Aug 18, where they allege he requested foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs.
Lai is a frequent visitor to Washington, meeting with officials, including past Secretary of Status Mike Pompeo, to rally support for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a "traitor".
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