Jimmy Lai

Extra Bio Info:

Jimmy Lai's imprisonment inhibits religious freedom advocacy.

On August 10, 2020, Lai, a media mogul, democracy activist, and advocate of religious freedom, was arrested from his home in Hong Kong for “colluding with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security” (Art. 29 National Security Law) and “conspiracy to defraud.” Lai was granted bail the following day.

On December 3, 2020, Lai was remanded back into custody after his bail was revoked.

On December 23, 2020, Lai was granted bail again.

On December 31, 2020, Lai was taken back into custody after the government succeeded in challenging the High Court’s decision to grant bail.

On April 16, 2021, a Hong Kong judge sentenced Lai to 14 months in prison in relation to his involvement in two peaceful protests in 2019.

On May 28, 2021, the Hong Kong District Court sentenced Lai to another 14 months in prison for his involvement in an unauthorized assembly in October 2019.

On December 9, 2021, Lai was convicted for "unauthorized assembly" for participating in a Tiananmen Square vigil on June 4, 2020.

On December 13, 2021, the Hong Kong District Court sentenced Lai to an additional 13 months in prison.

Lai's sentences are to run concurrently.

On October 25, 2022, Lai was convicted of fraud. 

In August 2023, an appeals court overturned Lai's conviction for organizing an unauthorized assembly but upheld his conviction for participating in an unauthorized gathering.

Lai is serving his sentence in Stanley Prison, Hong Kong.