Jimmy Lai trial: Hong Kong tycoon’s lawyers will seek acquittal on grounds of insufficient evidence

Panel of judges to hear submissions next month on whether prosecutors can establish prima facie case against Apple Daily founder
Defence Senior Counsel Robert Pang tells West Kowloon Court his team will provide evidence in support of Lai’s innocence if bench rules against tycoon

Hong Kong courts

Brian Wong

Published: 5:52pm, 20 May 2024

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Lawyers for Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying have said they will seek his acquittal in the middle of the mogul’s national security law’s trial on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Three judges presiding over the high-profile case are expected to hear submissions next month on whether prosecutors can establish a prima facie case against the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.

Defence Senior Counsel Robert Pang Yiu-hung told West Kowloon Court on Monday his team would provide evidence in support of Lai’s innocence if the bench ruled against the mogul.

It appears unlikely that Lai will take the witness stand, however, as Pang revealed the time required for establishing the defence’s case would not be long.

Lai, 76, has denied two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces as well as a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications.

The outspoken Beijing critic allegedly used the tabloid to instigate international sanctions and excite public disaffection towards the local government.

Lai was also said to have provided financial assistance to the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” (SWHK) lobbying group to trigger China’s political and economic collapse.

Jimmy Lai’s lawyers Marc Corlett and Robert Pang arrive at court. Photo: Elson Li

Lai’s lawyers last week cross-examined a police sergeant who had an hours-long conversation with former Apple Daily publisher Cheung Kim-hung before the latter agreed to help the prosecution secure the conviction of his former boss.

They asked the prosecution to provide further information of police contact with Cheung before cross-examination resumed, but said on Monday they had no more questions for the witness after examining the latest evidence submitted to the court.

The court then started watching 25 hours of video evidence, including Lai’s interviews with Taiwan and American media and selected episodes of the broadcast series “Live Chat with Jimmy Lai”, which were played at the defence’s request.

Prosecutors earlier contended the tycoon’s remarks could be used to infer his intention to break the security law after it took effect in June 2020, but Lai’s lawyers maintained that those statements were taken out of context.

The trial resumes on Tuesday.

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