Post by : Shakul

Hong Kong — Jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction and 20-year prison sentence in a landmark national security case, his legal team confirmed. The decision brings an end to a legal battle that lasted nearly five years and drew international attention.

The 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was sentenced in February after being found guilty in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials under Hong Kong’s national security law.

A member of Lai’s legal team said the businessman had given “clear and definitive instructions” not to file an appeal against either the conviction or the sentence. The lawyer did not provide further details explaining the decision.

Lai, one of the most prominent critics of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, has been in custody for more than five years. His family has expressed concern about his health, noting that he suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart-related complications while spending extended periods in solitary confinement.

The case has drawn strong criticism from several Western governments and human rights groups. Leaders in countries including the United States and Britain have called for his release, arguing that the charges undermine press freedom and political expression in Hong Kong.

The issue has also surfaced in diplomatic discussions. Donald Trump reportedly raised Lai’s situation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and the topic is expected to remain a point of tension in upcoming talks between Washington and Beijing.

However, authorities in Hong Kong and mainland China maintain that Lai received a fair trial and insist the national security law was necessary to restore stability in the city following the massive pro-democracy protests that erupted in 2019.

In a separate legal development last month, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal overturned a fraud conviction against Lai and cancelled a previous 69-month sentence, giving him a rare legal victory despite the far more serious national security case.

#world news #Global News #Sports News