On December 15, 2025, a panel of three judges in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delivered a verdict in the conspiracy case against Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Next Digital. During the trial, prosecutors and judges identified eight false statements Lai made to mislead the court, according to Sing Tao Daily.
1️⃣ Concealed true purpose of U.S. trip
Lai was granted bail on May 5, 2020, with a travel ban, yet he booked a U.S. trip from June 24 to July 19 and failed to disclose planned meetings with U.S. officials when applying to adjust his bail conditions. 🧐
2️⃣ Denied knowing IPAC
Despite sharing tweets tagged #IPACGlobal, Lai claimed he had never heard of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). WhatsApp messages with cofounder Luke de Pulford contradicted his claim.
3️⃣ Downplayed editorial orders
He admitted to only two editorial instructions at Apple Daily but evidence showed he repeatedly urged protest coverage and public mobilization through messaging with senior editors. 📺
4️⃣ Denied involvement in primaries
Lai said he knew nothing about the illegal pro-democracy primary election, yet WhatsApp records revealed he funded online voting software and covered related expenses. 💻
5️⃣ Denied contact with the Lam Chau Team
He claimed ignorance of the so-called mutual destruction squad, but admitted meeting its members in Taipei, southeast China’s Taiwan region, and he publicly saluted their leader on X. ✈️
6️⃣ Denied requesting U.S. sanctions
Initially, Lai insisted he never discussed sanctions with then-U.S. officials, but a 2019 Apple Daily report showed he urged sanctions against HKSAR and the Chinese mainland officials. 🚨
7️⃣ Covered up Elmer Yuen’s open letter
Lai claimed he was unaware of an activist’s draft letter calling for U.S. sanctions, even though he praised the letter hours before filming. 📜
8️⃣ Denied Apple Daily’s role in his talk show
He maintained that his online show 'Live Chat with Jimmy Lai' was personal, but evidence showed Apple Daily staff led production and promotion. 🎥
The HKSAR court’s verdict highlighted these contradictions as part of its findings. Observers say the eight false statements could influence Lai’s sentencing as the next steps unfold. 🌐
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
