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Home > Finance > Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to total of 20 years in national security trial

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to total of 20 years in national security trial

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on February 9, 2026

1 min read

Last updated: February 9, 2026

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Tags:financial crisis corporate governance financial markets Investment management

Quick Summary

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years on charges of collusion and publishing seditious materials, marking a significant national security case.

Jimmy Lai Receives 20-Year Sentence in Hong Kong National Security Case

Overview of Jimmy Lai's Sentencing

HONG KONG, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to a total of 20 years in jail on three charges comprising two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials.

Background of the Case

The trial has been the financial hub's most high-profile national security case.

Details of the Sentencing

The sentence comes after a legal saga spanning almost five years. Lai, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted on December 15 on all three counts. He was first arrested in August 2020.

Impact on Hong Kong's Media Landscape

(Reporting by James Pomfret, Jessie Pang and Greg Torode; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Jamie Freed)

Key Takeaways

•Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in Hong Kong.
•Convicted of colluding with foreign forces.
•Case is a high-profile national security trial.
•Lai founded the now-closed Apple Daily.
•Trial spanned nearly five years.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to total of 20 years in national security trial

1What is a national security trial?

A national security trial is a legal proceeding that addresses crimes considered a threat to the security of a nation, often involving serious allegations such as espionage or terrorism.

2What is collusion with foreign forces?

Collusion with foreign forces involves cooperating or conspiring with entities from another country to undermine national interests or security.

Overview of Jimmy Lai's Sentencing

Background of the Case

The trial has been the financial hub's most high-profile national security case.

Details of the Sentencing

Impact on Hong Kong's Media Landscape

(Reporting by James Pomfret, Jessie Pang and Greg Torode; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Jamie Freed)

Frequently Asked Questions

1What is a national security trial?

A national security trial is a legal proceeding that addresses crimes considered a threat to the security of a nation, often involving serious allegations such as espionage or terrorism.

2What is collusion with foreign forces?

Collusion with foreign forces involves cooperating or conspiring with entities from another country to undermine national interests or security.