Jimmy Lai to be sentenced in Hong Kong under national-security law

Jimmy Lai will be sentenced Monday in Hong Kong after a December conviction under the national security law; he faces a possible life term and his family has raised concerns about his age and health.

Jimmy Lai is due to be sentenced by a Hong Kong court on Monday following his conviction late last year under a national security law imposed by Beijing. He was arrested in 2020 amid a broader crackdown after months of large-scale protests the year before. The case has drawn international attention and statements from rights groups and foreign governments. Key facts: - A three-judge panel found on Dec. 15 that there was "indisputable evidence" Mr. Lai had conspired with foreign actors to undermine the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, according to the court ruling. - Mr. Lai was arrested in 2020, was convicted under the national security law late last year and faces a possible life sentence; his family has said his advanced age (78) and medical conditions raise concerns about his ability to survive a lengthy term. - Sentencing is scheduled for Monday in a Hong Kong court. Summary: International bodies and rights experts publicly criticized the conviction, with the G7 issuing a statement condemning the verdict and United Nations human rights experts citing alleged due process failures. The immediate next step is the scheduled sentencing on Monday; further procedural steps were not detailed in the report.