Home / News / World News / Photos / IN PHOTOS: Hong Kong sentences pro-democracy mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in jail

IN PHOTOS: Hong Kong sentences pro-democracy mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in jail

Updated On: 09 February, 2026 02:50 PM IST | Tarun Verma

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences, including urging foreign sanctions and publishing “seditious” articles in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The ruling, the harshest under the Beijing-imposed law, sparked international criticism, with rights groups calling it “effectively a death sentence” and a blow to press freedom. Lai will serve 18 additional years after accounting for overlapping jail time (Pics/AFP)

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Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai. Pic/AFP

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Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai. Pic/AFP
Teresa Lai (R), wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and Joseph Zen, retired cardinal of the Catholic Church (L), arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates Court for Jimmy Lai's sentencing

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Teresa Lai (R), wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and Joseph Zen, retired cardinal of the Catholic Church (L), arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates Court for Jimmy Lai's sentencing

Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper

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Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper

His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days

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His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days

A police vehicle operated by the explosive ordnance disposal unit (C) passes by as police personnel work outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong

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A police vehicle operated by the explosive ordnance disposal unit (C) passes by as police personnel work outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong

Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement

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Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement

Members of the media wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' court in Hong Kong. 

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Members of the media wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' court in Hong Kong. 

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