ZCZC
BFF-14
HONGKONG-COURT-LAI
Hong Kong’s top court orders Jimmy Lai to remain in custody
HONG KONG, Feb 9, 2021 (BSS/XINHUA) – The Court of Final Appeal of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday ordered Jimmy Lai Chee-
ying to remain in custody before his trial over crimes including those
against national security.
Lai has been charged with crimes including fraud and colluding with a
foreign country or external elements to endanger national security, and
appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for trial on Dec. 3 and 12, 2020
respectively. The two cases were adjourned and Lai’s bail applications were
rejected.
On Dec. 23, 2020, Lai applied to the High Court of the HKSAR for bail and
succeeded. Unsatisfied with the court’s decision, the Department of Justice
of the HKSAR government applied to the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR for
leave to appeal and requested that Lai be remanded in custody pending the
issuance of the appeal verdict.
The Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR granted leave for the appeal
application on Dec. 31, 2020 and Lai was remanded in custody immediately. The
top court handled the case on Feb. 1, 2021 and made the ruling on Tuesday.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/1009 hrs