Reported by NPR World
FILE -Veteran pro-democracy former lawmaker Au Kam San poses for a photo during an interview in Macao, Oct. 7, 2024. Bertha Wang/AP hide caption
HONG KONG — Macao pro-democracy former lawmaker Au Kam San was sentenced to 12½ years in prison Friday in the Chinese casino hub's first national security case following a closed-door trial that raised concerns about fairness.
Au's arrest last year was the first publicly known prosecution under Macao's national security law since it was enacted in 2009. A Macao court found him guilty of subverting state power, breaching confidentiality and establishing contact with organizations, groups or people outside Macao to commit acts endangering national security.
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Critics said that his case reflected Beijing's emphasis on security and intolerance of dissent, even though Macao's pro-democracy movement has never been as influential as that in neighboring Hong Kong.
The 69-year-old assisted and cooperated with "hostile organizations" outside Macao for a long period of time in collecting and disseminating political views laden with ideas of subverting state power and false information, according to a court statement. They conspired to incite hatred among Macao residents against the central government, with an intent to overthrow and undermine the country's fundamental system, it said.
"Although the defendant is a first-time offender and admitted to a considerable portion of the criminal facts, he demonstrated a high degree of intent. The degree of unlawfulness and the potential consequences of his crimes are both very serious," the statement said.
Macao is a former Portuguese colony that has operated, like Hong Kong, as a special administrative region since its return to Chinese rule in 1999.
In a public letter, Au's wife, Virginia Cheang, wrote that she only hoped authorities would allow his family to exchange letters with Au and visit him regularly without conditions.
"From a closed-door trial to a public verdict, what kind of operation is this? It's a political trial and it's a groundless persecution to humiliate one's character," Cheang said.
Au's daughter in London, Au Hon I, told The Associated Press that her father is a peaceful family man who cares deeply about Macao,…