Hong Kong Court Delays Jimmy Lai Trial Over Health Concerns

 

A Hong Kong court has postponed the national security trial of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai after his lawyers raised concerns about his heart health.

Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the now-closed Apple Daily, appeared noticeably thinner in court on Friday for the start of closing arguments in his landmark case. He has spent more than 1,600 days in a maximum-security prison, much of it in solitary confinement, and faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

The session, already pushed back a day due to a severe rainstorm, lasted only about 15 minutes after Lai’s defense revealed he had suffered heart palpitations and episodes where he felt he was about to collapse.

Defense lawyer Robert Pang SC told the court that Lai had undergone a medical check-up but was still waiting for both medication and a Holter monitor to track his heart activity. Prosecutors confirmed that medical staff were on standby, but Judge Alex Lee ruled it was “prudent” to delay proceedings until Lai’s health needs were addressed. The trial will resume on Monday.

Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, expressed deep concern for his father’s well-being, citing his age, diabetes, and prolonged time in solitary confinement as severe health risks. He described the summer heat in Lai’s small concrete cell as unbearable.

In a statement, the Hong Kong government rejected what it called “misleading statements” about Lai’s treatment, asserting that he had requested removal from the general prison population.

Closing arguments in the trial are expected to take eight days, with a verdict possibly weeks or months away. Lai, a British national, faces two counts of colluding with foreign forces under the 2020 national security law and one sedition charge. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Once a symbol of Hong Kong’s vibrant press freedom, Lai’s Apple Daily was known for its fierce criticism of Beijing until it was forced to close. His case has become emblematic of the sweeping national security crackdown on the city.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly stated that Lai’s case is being discussed in diplomatic talks with Beijing, pledging to “do everything I can to save him.”