Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, in one of the most high-profile prosecutions under China’s national security law that has reshaped Hong Kong’s political landscape since 2020.

The city’s high court said in its statement: “Stepping back and considering the total sentence for Jimmy Lai’s serious crimes from a global perspective… We are satisfied that Jimmy Lai’s total sentence in this case should be 20 years’ imprisonment.” ruling.

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, was convicted in December of colluding with foreign powers, endangering national security and conspiring to publish inflammatory material. The 78-year-old has been detained for more than five years while serving his sentence. solitary confinement Fraud charges.

He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison under security legislation imposed by Beijing in China’s special administrative region after widespread pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The case has drawn international criticism and is seen as a sign of the shrinking space for dissent once considered a bastion of press freedom in Asia.

US President Donald Trump Condolences in December On Lai’s conviction, he said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider releasing him but took no new action to pressure Beijing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raise the case During a visit to Beijing last month, Xi joined Xi Jinping in calling for the release of British citizen Lai Chi. “These discussions will continue and the foreign secretary is in contact with Mr Lai’s family,” Starmer told the British parliament after the visit.

Hong Kong authorities insisted that the case was not intended to restrict press freedom, saying Jimmy Lai used news reports as an excuse to carry out actions that threatened the security of China and Hong Kong.

Prosecutors accused Jimmy Lai of conspiring with six former Apple Daily employees, two activists and others to lobby foreign governments to impose sanctions and blockades on Hong Kong, or to engage in hostile activities.

Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of colluding with foreign powers under the national security law and conspiracy to publish inflammatory material.

He was one of the first high-profile people arrested under Beijing’s national security law. August 2020. Within a year, several senior Apple Daily reporters were also arrested. newspaper Cease operations in June 2021 Police arrested more company employees and froze its assets, ending 26 years in business.