Global Courant
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Court of Appeal on Monday blocked imprisoned media mogul Jimmy Lai’s bid to challenge a national security police warrant to investigate the contents of his mobile phones in the city’s highest court.
Lai, 75, founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, will face three charges in September under the city’s sweeping national security law, including conspiracy with foreign troops. He also faces charges under Britain’s colonial-era sedition law.
He is one of the most prominent critics of the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong, including President Xi Jinping.
The tycoon is challenging the police investigation of two of his mobile phones that were seized from his home during his arrest in August 2020, in part because they contain journalistic material.
The Supreme Court rejected challenges in August and October 2022, when Lai’s lawyers argued that such searches could have a “chilling effect” on press freedom in Hong Kong.
Three judges of the Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that they could not allow Lai’s lawyers to appeal to Hong Kong’s Supreme Court because the lawyers had raised points that had not been addressed before and “were not in managed to make a decent case”.
Although police had already searched the phones, there was “great public interest,” his lawyers argued.
It is not clear whether his legal team will take further action.
Lai lost an attempt to end his national security trial in May. He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
Beijing imposed national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests. The law punishes acts such as subversion, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism with life sentences.
Critics say the law is part of Beijing’s effort to end dissent and freedoms guaranteed to the city for 50 years when it was handed over to China from British rule in 1997.
Beijing and the city’s government say the law is necessary to maintain the stability that underpins the financial center’s economic success.
Lai is already serving a five-year, nine-month prison sentence for fraud following his conviction for violating a lease for Apple Daily’s headquarters. He denied the charges. REUTERS
