Overview
- Lai, 78, received a 20‑year term with 18 years ordered to run consecutive to his earlier 5‑year‑9‑month fraud sentence, and he retains a window to appeal.
- The non‑jury case was heard by government‑approved judges who called him the mastermind of the conspiracies but trimmed the term citing age, health and solitary confinement.
- Six former Apple Daily executives and two activists were also jailed for between 6 years 3 months and 10 years, with some reductions for guilty pleas and cooperation.
- International censure followed as U.S. President Donald Trump urged Xi Jinping to consider Lai’s release, the U.K. pledged rapid engagement, and rights groups decried a blow to press freedom.
- Hong Kong’s leader John Lee defended the ruling as lawful, Beijing rejected foreign criticism, and the shuttered Apple Daily and related entities were deemed seditious.