Hong Kong Tribunal Court rulings against Chinese media owner bail

[아시아경제 김은별 기자] On the 9th, the Hong Kong Tribunal Court (Supreme Court) ruled against bail against Jimmy Lai, the owner of the anti-Chinese media, Pinguorbao.

According to local media The Hong Kong Comprehensive Trial Court ruled that Yuljeongsa (Ministry of Justice)’s hand was raised on the case of Lai and imprisoned him in a detention center until retrial. Earlier on December 23rd last year The Hong Kong High Court granted Jimmy Lai’s bail application on conditions such as paying a bail of 10 million Hong Kong dollars (about 1.4 billion won). However, the bail decision was canceled after eight days.

At the time, Yuljeongsa said, “Judges should consider the risks when granting bail for suspected violations of the Hong Kong Security Law.”

Foreign media also delivered this news at once. AFP news agency said, “The characteristic of Hong Kong’s independent judicial system has been to apply the principle of’presumption of bail’ for non-violent crimes, but the Hong Kong Security Act has removed this principle.” He added, “Amid the Chinese government’s attempt to annihilate dissidents in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Security Law broke down the’legal firewall’ between China and Hong Kong.” Bloomberg reported, “This case is a victory for the Chinese authorities,” adding that “this case gave certain guidelines for the court to interpret a case related to the Hong Kong Security Law, which could be sentenced to life in prison.

Reporter Eun-Byeol Kim [email protected]