Comprehensive Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao and Wenhui Po reported that the founder of Next Media Group, Jimmy Lai, Next Media and Apple Daily, and three companies under the group, were suspected of violating the Hong Kong National Security Law and being charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security. Six former senior officials defended the of the Hong Kong High Court on the morning of the 22nd and all pleaded guilty to the charges. The case was heard by three judges designated by the National Security Law.
The prosecution stated that some defendants, including Zhang Jianhong, Chen Peimin and Zhou Daquan, will appear in court to testify as a taint or abstaining witness in the case of Jimmy Lai.
The picture shows the Hong Kong High Court.
6 defendants include Zhang Jianhong, former CEO of Next Media, Chen Peimin, former vice president of Apple Daily, Luo Weiguang, executive editor-in-chief Lin Wenzong, chief editor Feng Weiguang, and chief editor-in-chief named Raymond Lu, and Yang Qingqi with the pseudonym Li Ping.
Image source: Hong Kong Ta Kung Pao.
They were charged with "conspiracy to collude with foreign or overseas forces to endanger national security" and "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, invite to sell, distribute, display or copy incitement publications", saying that they conspired to print, publish, invite to sell, distribute, display and or copy incitement publications through the Apple Daily from April 1, 2019 to June 24, 2021; and requested foreign or overseas institutions, organizations, and personnel to sanction, blockade or take other hostile actions against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or the People's Republic of China, including more than 160 articles involved.
prosecution stated that the six defendants held important positions in Next Media Group, including president, editor-in-chief and chief editor, and were familiar with the daily operations of Apple Daily and were responsible for the relevant editorial and editorial decision-making. Therefore, the six defendants must be informed and involved in the relevant crimes.
. From the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law to June 2021, Apple Daily continued to publish a number of inflammatory articles in Chinese and English, involving calling on the international community to sanction relevant officials of the central government and the SAR government.
The prosecution has applied to postpone the case until the trial of Jimmy Lai case is concluded before handling the plea and sentence. It was also revealed that several stains or special pardon witnesses will appear in court for the Jimmy Lai case, including Zhang Jianhong, Chen Peimin and former Next Media President and Financial President Zhou Daquan.
It is reported that several prosecution witnesses were Jimmy Lai's confidants and capable generals during the incident.
The case of violations of the National Security Law involving Jimmy Lai and three related companies, Apple Daily, will be held in the High Court on December 1.
Hong Kong Apple Daily has ceased publication on June 24, 2021, while Next Media Co., Ltd. was issued by the court on December 15 of the same year.
According to China News Network K31
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