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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai's bail revoked

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai's bail revoked

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrives at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong on Thursday, Dec 31, 2020. (Photo: AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

HONG KONG: Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has had his bail revoked after prosecutors succeeded in asking the city’s highest court to send him back to detention.

Lai had been granted bail on Dec 23 after three weeks in custody on charges of fraud and endangering national security. His appeal hearing is slated for Feb 1.

The court said on Thursday (Dec 31) that it was "reasonably arguable" that the previous judge's decision was erroneous and that the order of granting bail was invalid.

Lai was charged with fraud on Dec 3 for allegedly violating the lease terms for office space for Next Digital, the media company he founded.

He was later charged again on Dec 12 under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.

Lai is among a string of pro-democracy activists and supporters arrested by Hong Kong police in recent months as authorities step up their crackdown on dissent in the city.

READ: Hong Kong national security law - 5 key facts you need to know

His court appearance comes after Chinese state-owned newspaper People's Daily posted a strongly worded commentary on Sunday criticising a Hong Kong court for granting bail to Lai, stating that it "severely hurt Hong Kong's rule of law".

The People's Daily said that it would not be difficult for Lai to abscond, and called him "notorious and extremely dangerous".

It also warned that China could take over the case, according to Article 55 of the national security law, which states that China can "exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning offence endangering national security".

READ: Timeline - The impact of the national security law on Hong Kong

Hong Kong's judiciary on Tuesday uploaded a 19-page judgment on its website, laying out the reasons why High Court Judge Justice Alex Lee had granted Lai bail.

Lee said that he was satisfied that there was no flight risk in Lai's case, and noted that Lai was willing to have his movements monitored if it had been a feasible option.

On Tuesday, Lai resigned as chairman and executive director of Next Digital, which runs the Apple Daily newspaper, according to a filing made to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

He did so "to spend more time dealing with this personal affairs" and confirmed that he had no disagreement with the board of directors, the filing said.

Source: AP/kv/dv

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