Latest news with #RobertPang
Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai given heart monitor for final stretch of marathon trial
Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for around 1,700 days. (EPA Images pic) HONG KONG : Hong Kong pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai was provided with medication and a heart monitor for the start of his final submissions in a landmark national security trial, following health concerns over heart palpitations. Lai, 77, who founded the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. Lai's lawyer Robert Pang told the court last Friday that Lai had some episodes where he felt that he was collapsing and had heart 'palpitations', prompting the court to adjourn proceedings and order that he be provided with a heart monitor and medication. Prosecutor Anthony Chau confirmed that Lai had been provided with these items on Friday and that he was now fit for court. Lai, noticeably thinner than when the trial began in late 2023, was dressed in a white jacket in the glass dock and pressed his palms together in a prayer gesture several times to his family and supporters. One of the judges, Esther Toh, said additional breaks could be provided for Lai if need be, while also acknowledging the opinion of a medical expert who examined Lai that he was 'physically and mentally fit for court'. 'I'm worried for him. He's already in his 70s and has diabetes, and now palpitations,' said Lucille, a supporter who queued for hours to get into the packed courtroom. Lai, a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for around 1,700 days. His son and some rights groups have expressed fear over his deteriorating health. Some Western governments have called for Lai's immediate release and raised concerns about the erosion of fundamental rights in the financial hub under China-imposed national security laws. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have said Lai is being given a fair trial and have warned against such interference in the city's internal affairs. US President Donald Trump said in a media interview last week that he would 'do everything I can to save him'. An Australian foreign affairs spokesman told Reuters today that Canberra was 'deeply concerned by Hong Kong's widespread application of national security laws to repress civil society and prosecute pro-democracy advocates … such as Jimmy Lai'.
The Independent
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Closing arguments in Jimmy Lai's national security trial begin amid health concerns
A Hong Kong court began hearing final arguments in the landmark national security trial of British media tycoon Jimmy Lai on Monday after multiple delays. The 77-year-old founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily is facing the prospect of life in prison if found guilty of sedition and collusion with foreign powers under Hong Kong's national security law. Mr Lai has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious material. The closing arguments were scheduled to begin on 14 August, but were delayed twice due to the city's weather conditions and Mr Lai's deteriorating health. Mr Lai's lawyer, Robert Pang, told the court last Friday that the jailed millionaire experienced episodes where he felt he was collapsing and had heart "palpitations". The court adjourned the proceedings and ordered that he be provided with a heart monitor and medication. Prosecutor Anthony Chau confirmed Mr Lai had been provided with these items on Friday and that he was now fit for court. Mr Lai, noticeably thinner than when the trial began in late 2023, was dressed in a white jacket in the glass dock and pressed his palms together in a prayer gesture several times to his family and supporters. One of the judges, Esther Toh, said additional breaks could be provided for Mr Lai if needed. The prosecutor on Monday discussed the security law concerning the collusion charges, arguing that the request to impose sanctions must include officials and not just states. He planned to lay out other principal issues in the afternoon and make his closing statement on Tuesday. Earlier, prosecutors alleged that Mr Lai had asked foreign countries, especially the US, to take action against Beijing "under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy". On the first day of his testimony, Mr Lai denied he had asked then vice president Mike Pence and then secretary of state Mike Pompeo to take action against Hong Kong and China during the 2019 protests. When Mr Lai's lawyer questioned him about an Apple Daily report saying he had asked the US government to sanction Beijing and Hong Kong leaders, he said he must have discussed it with Mr Pompeo as he had no reason to doubt the accuracy of the report by the newspaper he founded. But Mr Lai said that he wouldn't have encouraged foreign sanctions after the national security law was enacted on 30 June 2020. Mr Lai has been in prison for nearly four years for his role in the pro-democracy protests of 2019, which led to Beijing imposing the national security law in the city. Last week, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement that Mr Lai's health had deteriorated after being in solitary confinement since 2021. The watchdog said he had been restricted to 50 minutes of 'exercise' a day and barely allowed exposure to natural light. The media tycoon's son, Sebastien Lai, claimed last year that his father, who suffers from diabetes, had lost significant weight and that he had been denied independent medical care. "I don't want my father to die in jail," he said, urging the UK government to do more to secure Mr Lai's release. Sebastien Lai told Sky News his father had been put in a cell where the temperatures reached 30-40C. 'He bakes in there essentially,' the son said. "So we're incredibly worried about him and all of this in the last four years was aimed to break him, to break his spirit." The trial began in December 2023 and was originally scheduled to last 80 days. Mr Lai's detention has drawn concern from foreign governments and rights groups. US president Donald Trump said last year, before starting his second term, he would talk to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about Mr Lai's release. 'One hundred percent, I will get him out.' However, in a Fox News radio interview released last Thursday, Mr Trump denied saying he would '100 per cent' save Mr Lai but rather that he would bring the issue up. 'I've already brought it up, and I'm going to do everything I can to save him,' he said.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong court postpones Jimmy Lai's trial over his heart condition
Former Hong Kong media owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's national security trial has been adjourned until Monday after judges expressed concerns about his heart issue that arose shortly before closing submission proceedings. Advertisement The Apple Daily founder's health condition was brought to the attention of West Kowloon Court on Friday, just as the three presiding High Court judges were about to hear closing speeches from prosecutors and defence lawyers in his case of conspiracies to publish seditious articles and collude with foreign forces. Defence senior counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung revealed that Lai, 77, had recently experienced heart palpitations while in prison, adding that in one incident he felt he would 'collapse'. The defence earlier sought the court's permission for Lai's absence from the remainder of the trial, but the judges rejected the request. Pang stressed his client did not want 'undue attention' on his health condition and that the defence was prepared to carry on with proceedings. Advertisement Prosecutor Anthony Chau Tin-hang said that while the prison service's medical team could provide Lai with necessary medication shortly, it was unable to immediately arrange for a Holter monitor, a portable device used to detect irregular heartbeats.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai's trial delayed over health concerns
Hong Kong judges have postponed the trial of media tycoon Jimmy Lai until he is provided with a heart monitoring device and related medication. Friday's decision marked the second delay to the case this week after his lawyer said he had suffered heart palpitations. The 77-year-old founder of the Apple Daily newspaper is charged with foreign collusion under Hong Kong's national security law, which Beijing imposed following widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019. Closing arguments in the long-running trial were originally expected to begin on Thursday, but all court sessions were suspended due to bad weather. As the court resumed on Friday, defence lawyer Robert Pang said that Lai had heart 'palpitations' and had experienced the feeling of 'collapsing', but added that the tycoon did not want attention to be concentrated on his health. Lai has been kept behind bars since December 2020, reportedly in solitary confinement, and concerns have previously been raised over the septuagenarian's welfare. 'The world is watching' The three-judge panel adjourned the case to Monday to allow time for prison authorities to outfit Lai with a wearable heart monitor and provide medication. The sprawling trial, which began in December 2023, is entering its final stages as Western nations and rights groups continue to call for Lai's release. Aside from the collusion charge – which could land him in prison for life – Lai is also charged with 'seditious publication' related to 161 op-eds carrying his byline. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Thursday that 'the world is watching how Hong Kong treats its journalists'. 'The prolonged detention of Jimmy Lai not only destroys Hong Kong's historic reputation as a free and open society, but also as a trusted hub for business,' said CPJ regional director Beh Lih Yi. Trump comments US President Donald Trump told a Fox News radio programme on Thursday that he had previously brought up the Lai case with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'I'm going to do everything I can to save him … you could also understand President Xi would not be exactly thrilled,' the outlet quoted Trump as saying. The Hong Kong government said on Wednesday it 'strongly disapproved and rejected the slanderous remarks made by external forces' regarding Lai's case. Lai is a British citizen and his son Sebastien reiterated in March calls for the Keir Starmer administration to do more, saying: 'I don't want my father to die in jail.' Two prosecution witnesses, Chan Tsz-wah and Andy Li, also accused Lai of financially backing an advocacy group that ran overseas newspaper advertisements supporting the 2019 protests. Lai has denied calling for sanctions against China and Hong Kong and said he never advocated separatism. Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after police raids and the arrests of its senior editors.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Hong Kong delays trial of democrat Jimmy Lai over heart problems
HONG KONG, August 15 (Reuters) - The closing submissions in a national security trial against Hong Kong pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai were delayed on Friday after his lawyer said he had suffered heart palpitations. The closing submissions will recommence on Monday after the court adjourned to allow Lai, 77, to obtain medication and a heart monitor. Lai, who founded the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. His lawyer Robert Pang told the court that Lai experienced some episodes where he felt like "collapsing", adding he had accepted recommendations by a visiting medical specialist but the arrangements were still being made. "He hasn't got the medication recommended by the specialist nor the monitor, so I am a little concerned," said one of the judges, Esther Toh. Lai, a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for more than 1,700 days, with his son previously raising concerns over his deteriorating health. Prosecutor Anthony Chau told the court that a medical team was on standby in the court, and that the medication and heart monitor would be provided before the hearing recommences on Monday. Some Western governments, including the U.S., have called for Lai's immediate release, saying the trial is politically motivated under a years-long national security crackdown in the China-ruled financial hub. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have said Lai is being given a fair trial and condemned foreign governments for meddling in domestic affairs. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a media interview on Thursday that he would "do everything I can to save him." Diplomats from at least seven countries attended the hearing, with the closing submissions expected to last eight days. The three judges are then expected to deliberate for several months before laying down a verdict -- over five years after Lai was first arrested in August 2020. Lai arrived at the court on Friday wearing a white windproof jacket and smiled and waved to his family and supporters -- some of whom queued for hours to get a ticket for the packed courtroom. His national security trial began in December 2023. In the witness box, Lai said he was defending free speech and rejected allegations that he lobbied the U.S. to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.
