Armed police keep watch outside West Kowloon Court in Hong Kong ahead of sentencing arguments for former media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty ImagesLawyers for former media owner Jimmy Lai have asked a Hong Kong court to grant him a lighter sentence on account of his age and poor health. “A prison sentence would bring him much closer to the end of his life,” he said. I think he can no longer be called Fatty Lai”, Mr Pang said. The law sets strict sentencing bands which are mandatory, but the court also applies common law sentencing principles.

Source: The Irish Times January 13, 2026 05:52 UTC