Media tycoon charged with fraud
Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon, has been charged with fraud and denied bail until a court hearing in April, amid an intensifying crackdown by the city's authorities on high-profile critics of Beijing.
Lai, 73, the founder of Next Digital, which publishes Apple Daily, Hong Kong's bestselling tabloid, was arrested on Wednesday night, on the same day that three young pro- democracy activists were jailed for their role during last year's anti- government protest movement. Two other Next Digital executives were also arrested, but granted bail.
All three face fraud charges that court documents say are related to the paper's offices allegedly being used for purposes not permitted by the building's lease.
Charges and investigations against activists have been spurred by the introduction of a harsh national security law in June. Elected opposition politicians have also been disqualified from the city's parliament in recent weeks.
Lai, whose Apple Daily has been openly critical of Beijing, was first arrested in August on suspicion of “collusion with foreign forces.”
He has not been charged so far with any national security breaches. Lai, who is also a British citizen and a resident of Taiwan, was denied bail as he was deemed to be an “absconding risk.”
It means the millionaire faces months in jail, but his predicament will likely hold little surprise for him, as he has spoken of his fears that the authorities will seek to shut his irreverent paper down and that he will be targeted by Beijing, which views the tycoon, originally from Guangzhou, as a traitor.
In an interview with The Telegraph in July, he said: “If I leave I would disgrace myself and undermine the democratic movement. I would be a fool to leave. I will be here in Hong Kong until the last day,” he said. “Whatever happens, we will face it.” Lai is also being prosecuted for his alleged role in last year's pro-democracy rallies.
On Wednesday, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam, all leading members of the now disbanded Demosisto political party, were handed sentences ranging from seven to 13 and a half months for their part in a mass rally last year. ”
Ted Hui, one of the pro-democracy activists arrested last month charged with disturbing legislature proceedings, arrived in Copenhagen earlier this week on an official invitation from Danish lawmakers.
“I hereby announce that I will go into exile and will withdraw my membership of Democratic Party of Hong Kong,” Hui said in a statement.
“There is no word to explain my pain and it's hard to hold back tears,” he said.