HONG KONG, March 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal his national security conviction that saw him sentenced to 20 years behind bars last month, his legal team said Friday, without providing a reason. His sentence is the harshest penalty doled out so far under a national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong following widespread pro-democracy protests. Lai's legal team told AFP they would not provide an explanation for the decision to not appeal. In February, Lai's son Sebastien said the "draconian prison sentence is devastating for our family and life-threatening for my father". Meanwhile, Hong Kong's leader John Lee lauded the "severe" term as a demonstration of the city's rule of law.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 06, 2026 03:42 UTC