Li Zhiying, the founder of Next Media, was originally scheduled to go to trial yesterday in the case of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and Tim Owen, Queen’s Counsel of the United Kingdom, defended the defendant on behalf of the defendant. However, the Department of Justice recently applied to the High Court to postpone the trial, pending the result of the National People’s Congress’s interpretation of the law. The court finally adjourned the case until December 13 for another hearing.
Jimmy Lai hired Tim Owen, Queen’s Counsel of the United Kingdom, to represent him in defense of cases involving violations of the Hong Kong National Security Law. The case will go to trial later. Li was escorted by a prison van to the High Court yesterday morning, and a large number of police officers were armed with guns.
The case was handled by three judges designated by the National Security Law, Du Libing, Li Sulan and Li Yunteng, and the trial was originally scheduled to start yesterday. The Department of Justice filed an application in court to postpone the case for 7 days. The defense did not object, but the judge worried that there would not be enough time for the Standing Committee of the National Congress to deal with the interpretation of the law, so the case was postponed until December 13.
Defense reveals Tim Owen’s visa was not extended
Peng Yaohong, a senior barrister representing Li Zhiying, revealed in court that Tim Owen himself had obtained a work visa to come to Hong Kong because of another criminal case. He applied for an extension of his visa to defend Li Zhiying on behalf of Li Zhiying, but was not approved by the Immigration Department, but he will continue to stay in Hong Kong. Hong Kong acted as legal representative for the criminal case.
Jimmy Lai, former Apple Daily executive Zhang Jianhong, former vice president Chen Peimin, former editor-in-chief Luo Weiguang, former executive editor-in-chief Lin Wenzong, former English version executive editor-in-chief Feng Weiguang, former editor-in-chief Yang Qingqi, and three companies under Next Media were arrested. Accused of colluding with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security and other crimes, six former senior executives of “Apple Daily” pleaded guilty earlier, and some of them will testify in the Li Zhiying case.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/Ji-ying Lai’s violation of the National Security Act-Department of Justice appeals for adjournment and waits for NPC to interpret the law-High Court postpones hearing until December 13/350841?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium=referral