Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai remanded into custody found on fraud charge
03 December, 2020
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was remanded into custody in Thursday (Dec 3) after becoming charged with fraud, the most recent in a string of prosecutions brought against high-profile Beijing critics and democracy campaigners.
Lai, 73, are the owners of Hong Kong's best-advertising Apple Daily, a favorite tabloid that's unashamedly pro-democracy and fiercely critical of authorities.
Lai and two of the firm's executives - Royston Chow and Wong Wai-keung - face fraud charges that court papers say are related to the paper's offices allegedly appearing used for purposes certainly not permitted by the building's lease.
Law enforcement raided Apple Daily's headquarters found in August and arrested a string of senior organization statistics, including Lai, on suspicion of "collusion with foreign forces" under a good vaguely worded new national security regulation that Beijing imposed on the town.
None has up to now been charged with any national security breaches.
But Victor So, the magistrate overseeing Thursday's hearing, is from several judges selected by Hong Kong's chief executive to try such circumstances.
Hence denied Lai bail but granted it to Wong and Chow, setting the next court date for April.
Your choice means Lai faces months behind bars as police continue their investigation.
A good clampdown has gathered pace in Hong Kong since China imposed its sweeping security laws in June, with opposition politicians disqualified and a large number of activists charged or investigated.
On Wednesday, three prominent young democracy campaigners - including Joshua Wong - were jailed when planning on taking part in previous year's democracy protests.
Lai is also appearing prosecuted for his alleged part in those rallies in a separate case.
The crackdown has provoked outrage in the West and fear for millions who this past year took to the streets to protest China's tightening grip on the town.
Beijing says steadiness and purchase has been restored and has dismissed the enormous crowds that protested due to a foreign plot to destabilise China.
Critics say Beijing features shredded the freedoms and autonomy Hong Kong was promised ahead of its handover by Britain.
Lai has much time said he fears authorities want to shutter his newspaper, mostly of the local outlets still ready to vocally undertake Beijing.
In Chinese state media, he's routinely cast as a traitor and "black hand".
"I'm prepared for prison," Lai told AFP within an interview two weeks before the security regulation was imposed.
"I'm a troublemaker. I came below with nothing, the freedom of this place has offered me everything. Maybe it's period I paid back for that freedom by fighting for this," he added.
Prosecutors have tried getting cases against him during the past.
He was acquitted found in September of intimidating a good reporter from a rival pro-government newspaper.
The corruption watchdog also dropped a circumstance against him over political donations to supporters after four years of investigations.
Authorities deny targeting Apple Daily or perhaps Lai and say law enforcement are simply just enforcing breaches of the law.
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