During the trial, Lai’s defense argued freedom of expression and pressed that prosecutors overstep human rights discussions, but the judge rejected these defenses, finding evidence of his attempt to solicit foreign leverage against China.

Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy media mogul and founder of Apple Daily in Hong Kong, has been convicted of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious articles in a landmark national security trial.

The judgment presents Lai’s rags-to-riches story but questions the credibility of his evidence and narrative, with the ruling written by national security judges Esther Toh Lye-ping, Susana D’Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee Wan-tang.

Analysts noted that Western sanctions against Hong Kong seem unlikely in the near term due to the need for cooperation with Beijing on trade and other issues.

Lai, aged 78, had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The judges describe Lai as the mastermind behind conspiracies to impose international sanctions on Hong Kong and China, and highlight his long-standing hostility toward the PRC.

Lai was arrested in August 2020 under Hong Kong's Beijing-imposed national security law that followed the 2019 protests, and the Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 after police raids and asset freezes.

International reaction was divided, with the U.S. and U.K. calling for consideration of Lai’s release or fair treatment, while rights groups criticized the verdict as a blow to press freedom; Beijing defended the judiciary’s independence.

The court’s 855-page ruling noted Lai’s long-standing resentment toward the PRC; a mitigation hearing is scheduled for January, and there is potential for appeal.

Lai’s alleged acts included seeking meetings with foreign officials and advocating sanctions on China; unlike some co-defendants, he did not plead guilty.

Lai’s health has deteriorated in custody, with heart problems and weight loss reported, raising concerns about his wellbeing as he faces a possible life sentence.

He has spent about five years in custody, much of it in solitary confinement, with health declines noted by his family amid ongoing legal proceedings.