#Court #LegalTerrorism
Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
The Hong Kong judicial system has been adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence, in which a defendant is innocent before conviction and should not be imprisoned unless there is sufficient reason to do so.
However, Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, who was charged by the police for fraud, as well as several defendants in cases related to the National Security Law were all denied bail by appointed judges and are imprisoned without trial.
A barrister worried that if the defendants whom the prosecution alleges are involved in a national security case will be denied bail, citizens will question whether the court has been reduced to merely symbolic.
Human rights organizations have also been heavily criticizing that these imprisonment before conviction are a serious violation of human rights.
The National Security appointed judge, Chief Magistrate Victor So denied Jimmy Lai’s application for bail. Lai will be remanded in custody until April 2021, which means he will be imprisoned for at least 4 months.
The senior officers of Next Digital, Chow Tat Kuen and Wong Wai Keung who were also charged with fraud were granted bail.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec4
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201204/B34MREBSERBMDJE7FMX42JAAWM/
#NationalSecurityLaw #FreeJimmy #JimmyLai #Judge #Injustice #Bail
Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
The Hong Kong judicial system has been adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence, in which a defendant is innocent before conviction and should not be imprisoned unless there is sufficient reason to do so.
However, Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, who was charged by the police for fraud, as well as several defendants in cases related to the National Security Law were all denied bail by appointed judges and are imprisoned without trial.
A barrister worried that if the defendants whom the prosecution alleges are involved in a national security case will be denied bail, citizens will question whether the court has been reduced to merely symbolic.
Human rights organizations have also been heavily criticizing that these imprisonment before conviction are a serious violation of human rights.
The National Security appointed judge, Chief Magistrate Victor So denied Jimmy Lai’s application for bail. Lai will be remanded in custody until April 2021, which means he will be imprisoned for at least 4 months.
The senior officers of Next Digital, Chow Tat Kuen and Wong Wai Keung who were also charged with fraud were granted bail.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec4
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201204/B34MREBSERBMDJE7FMX42JAAWM/
#NationalSecurityLaw #FreeJimmy #JimmyLai #Judge #Injustice #Bail
#FreeJimmy
International attention on HK top court's decision to revoke Jimmy Lai's bail release, calling for justice and immediate release
Source: Apple Daily #Jan1
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
International attention on HK top court's decision to revoke Jimmy Lai's bail release, calling for justice and immediate release
Source: Apple Daily #Jan1
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#FreeJimmy #Injustice
International attention on HK top court's decision to revoke Jimmy Lai's bail release, calling for justice and immediate release
Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist #JimmyLai has been sent back to jail after the territory’s top court rescinded his bail on new year's eve. The decision came just days after People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist party mouthpiece, lambasted the decision to grant bail and raised the spectre of his case being transferred to China.
Benedict Rogers, founder of Hong Kong Watch, a UK-based campaign group, condemned the court’s decision. “Judicial independence trampled on, the rule of law further undermined, and yet another outrageous assault on #HongKongers,” he wrote on Twitter.
Another member of Hong Kong Watch, Luke de Pulford also criticised, "In a totalitarian state, if justice isn't the justice you expected, just try again."
Senior fellow at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Andreas Fulda condemned the Hong Kong Government's approach as "rule by law" rather than the rule of law and called for immediate release of Jimmy Lai.
Member of the Finnish Green Part, Eero Kivistö, rallied a demonstration at the the Chinese Embassy in Finland urging for release of Jimmy Lai and the 12 youth being arrested for attempting to flee the city.
Member of the International Commission on Religious Freedom, part of the Federal Government of the United States, Johnnie Moore pointed out that Jimmy Lai’s case showed further distortion of Hong Kong’s judiciary system.
Republican congressman from Colorado Ken Buck, retweeted Jimmy Lai's news with the hashtag #freeJimmyLai.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan1
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210101/27DF34S3SZCP7OUGOH3JUYK27M/
#AppleDaily #NextMedia #PoliceState #DepartmentofInjustice
International attention on HK top court's decision to revoke Jimmy Lai's bail release, calling for justice and immediate release
Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist #JimmyLai has been sent back to jail after the territory’s top court rescinded his bail on new year's eve. The decision came just days after People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist party mouthpiece, lambasted the decision to grant bail and raised the spectre of his case being transferred to China.
Benedict Rogers, founder of Hong Kong Watch, a UK-based campaign group, condemned the court’s decision. “Judicial independence trampled on, the rule of law further undermined, and yet another outrageous assault on #HongKongers,” he wrote on Twitter.
Another member of Hong Kong Watch, Luke de Pulford also criticised, "In a totalitarian state, if justice isn't the justice you expected, just try again."
Senior fellow at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Andreas Fulda condemned the Hong Kong Government's approach as "rule by law" rather than the rule of law and called for immediate release of Jimmy Lai.
Member of the Finnish Green Part, Eero Kivistö, rallied a demonstration at the the Chinese Embassy in Finland urging for release of Jimmy Lai and the 12 youth being arrested for attempting to flee the city.
Member of the International Commission on Religious Freedom, part of the Federal Government of the United States, Johnnie Moore pointed out that Jimmy Lai’s case showed further distortion of Hong Kong’s judiciary system.
Republican congressman from Colorado Ken Buck, retweeted Jimmy Lai's news with the hashtag #freeJimmyLai.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan1
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210101/27DF34S3SZCP7OUGOH3JUYK27M/
#AppleDaily #NextMedia #PoliceState #DepartmentofInjustice
#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[21 June, 2021]
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[21 June, 2021]
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Reuters
EXCLUSIVE HK’s Apple Daily to shut within days, says Jimmy Lai adviser
Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut "in a matter of days" after authorities froze the company's assets under a national security law, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday.
#WhiteTerror #PoliticalProsecution
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Pro-Democracy #AppleDaily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
At around 15:45 on June 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, the executive board of Apple Daily came to a decision: The city's only Chinese-language pro-democracy newspaper will be shut down. The exact closing date will be announced on Friday, 25 June, 2021, which would possibly be the last operating day of the 26-year-old top selling newspaper. In other words, Saturday, 26 June could be the last time for the newspaper to appear.
The Hong Kong police raided the newspaper office with over 500 officers on June 17, 2021 and arrested 3 editors and 2 executives for "colluding with foreign powers" under #NationalSecurityLaw. Among them, editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were charged with breaching the national security law.
Apple Daily founder #JimmyLai has been arrested and detained since January 2021.
The Hong Kong government has been freezing the assets of Apple Daily and its connecting companies, to block the newspaper's from operating and paying salary. #MarkSimon, an adviser to Jimmy Lai, told Reuters that "vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected".
According to sources, following the decision of the board on June 21, the management of Apple Daily notified all its staff of the possibility of resignation with immediate effect. The newspaper hopes to issue adequate compensation salary to its employees, but it depends whether the government will allow the company to do so. The board has issued a letter to the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government regarding the matter, demanding a reply on Friday, June 25.
The management said they understand the potential risks under the current circumstances and will let their staff to make their own decision. The management thanks their staff for their contribution and professionalism in the newspaper's continuous fight for press freedom.
Source: Apple Daily; Now News; Stand News #Jun21
https://bit.ly/3xAHW3J
https://bit.ly/3qdAf0U
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #FrozenAsset #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily #SupportAppleDaily
====
Timeline:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[June 21, 2021]
HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Pro-Democracy #AppleDaily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
At around 15:45 on June 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, the executive board of Apple Daily came to a decision: The city's only Chinese-language pro-democracy newspaper will be shut down. The exact closing date will be announced on Friday, 25 June, 2021, which would possibly be the last operating day of the 26-year-old top selling newspaper. In other words, Saturday, 26 June could be the last time for the newspaper to appear.
The Hong Kong police raided the newspaper office with over 500 officers on June 17, 2021 and arrested 3 editors and 2 executives for "colluding with foreign powers" under #NationalSecurityLaw. Among them, editor-in-chief #RyanLaw and #NextDigital CEO #CheungKimHung were charged with breaching the national security law.
Apple Daily founder #JimmyLai has been arrested and detained since January 2021.
The Hong Kong government has been freezing the assets of Apple Daily and its connecting companies, to block the newspaper's from operating and paying salary. #MarkSimon, an adviser to Jimmy Lai, told Reuters that "vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected".
According to sources, following the decision of the board on June 21, the management of Apple Daily notified all its staff of the possibility of resignation with immediate effect. The newspaper hopes to issue adequate compensation salary to its employees, but it depends whether the government will allow the company to do so. The board has issued a letter to the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government regarding the matter, demanding a reply on Friday, June 25.
The management said they understand the potential risks under the current circumstances and will let their staff to make their own decision. The management thanks their staff for their contribution and professionalism in the newspaper's continuous fight for press freedom.
Source: Apple Daily; Now News; Stand News #Jun21
https://bit.ly/3xAHW3J
https://bit.ly/3qdAf0U
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #FrozenAsset #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily #SupportAppleDaily
====
Timeline:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30149
[June 21, 2021]
HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30169
立場新聞 Stand News
【國安拘蘋果高層】壹傳媒董事會周五商討是否停止營運 員工流傳周六或為最後見報日 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
保安局上周四（17 日）引用《港區國安法》，凍結與《蘋果》有關的 3 間公司的資產，涉及款 1,800 萬。早...
#OpinionArticle #SaveAppleDaily
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30175
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30175
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