Hong Kong sentences Jimmy Lai to 20 years under national security law

Hong Kong's High Court sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison after convicting him of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the national security law and of publishing seditious materials.

Hong Kong's High Court on Feb 9 sentenced media tycoon and critic Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty on national security and seditious publication charges. Lai, 78, founded the pro-democracy Apple Daily and had pleaded not guilty. The sentence follows a guilty verdict handed down on Dec 15 after a lengthy national security trial. Known developments: - The court sentenced Lai to 20 years for two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the national security law and one count of publishing seditious materials. - Lai pleaded not guilty during the trial; a guilty verdict was announced on Dec 15. - The case involved disputes over legal representation and trial procedures; any next formal legal step is undetermined at this time. Summary: The sentence follows the convictions reached in Lai's national security trial. Undetermined at this time.