Jimmy Lai Chee-ying
Political Prisoner
Jimmy Lai Chee-ying 黎智英
Age at Arrest: 72
Founder, Next Digital Limited
*Currently in jail and on trial. A total of 7 years, 5 months’ imprisonment.
Jimmy Lai is an internationally-respected entrepreneur and a leading campaigner for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. Lai is the founder of Giordano, one of Asia's largest clothing retailers and Next Media, formerly the largest listed media company in Hong Kong which published, among other titles, the Apple Daily, the only Chinese-language mass circulation pro-democracy daily newspaper until its forced closure in June 2021. Lai was arrested on 10 August 2020 alongside other Next Digital executives. (Photo: HKFP)
Charges, incidents & sentences:
Charge: Conspiracy to publish seditious publications
Incident: Jimmy Lai, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and AD Internet Limited stand accused of the same conspiracy to print seditious publications charges for publishing pro-democracy materials.
Sentencing: Trial resumes from 20 November 2024
Charge: Conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security
Incident: Accused of conspiring with Andy Li, Finn Lau and Mark Herman Simon between July 2020 and February 2021 to lobby external forces to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China
Sentencing: Trial resumes from 20 November 2024
Charge: Organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly
Incident: Causeway Bay March on18 August 2019
Sentencing: 12 months’ imprisonment (HKFP)
Charge: Organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly
Incident: Chater Garden Rally on 31 August 2019
Sentencing: 8 months’ imprisonment, to be served concurrently with charges related to 18 August 2019 March except for two months (BBC, CNN)
Charge: Organising and participating in an unauthorised assembly
Incident: Protest on Hong Kong Island on 1 October 2019
Sentencing: 14 months’ imprisonment, part of the sentencing to be served concurrently with previous sentencing, extending Lai's jail term to a total of 20 months (Nikkei, Forbes)
Charge: Participating in and inciting participation in an unauthorised assembly
Incident: June 4th Candlelight Vigil on 4 June 2020
Charge: Fraud
Sentencing: 5 years, 9 months’ imprisonment (The Guardian)
Other Prisoners
