Hong Kong authorities seek forfeiture order for properties tied to Jimmy Lai’s crimes

Jimmy Lai in 2021.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February after being convicted of two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles.

Photo: Sam Tsang The government has filed an application to confiscate properties linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying in accordance with Hong Kong’s national security laws.

A government spokesman on Thursday also said the application filed with the Court of First Instance aimed to achieve the “important objectives of preventing and suppressing acts and activities endangering national security”.

Lai, 78, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily tabloid-style newspaper was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February after being convicted of two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles.

The court also fined Apple Daily, Apple Daily Printing and AD Internet more than HK$3 million (US$383,800) each.

The government said any money or property gained from crimes under the national security law, including financial aid, profits, rewards and any funds or tools used or meant to be used in committing the crime, shall be confiscated. “A forfeiture order made for the purpose of safeguarding national security can prevent persons convicted of offences endangering national security, their accomplices or agents from continuing to use their offence-related properties to engage in acts and activities endangering national security,” the spokesman said.

He added the order would “cut off the funding chains” for offences endangering national security.

Six former Apple Daily executives were jailed for up to 10 years.

Two of them, Fung Wai-kong and Lam Man-chung, have lodged appeals.

原文链接: 南华早报