Hong Kong appeals court overturns Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction
Al Jazeera
February 26, 2026
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Hong Kong’s Court of First Instance has overturned the fraud conviction of Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon sentenced to 20 years in prison under Hong Kong’s national security law. The appellate court ruled that Lai and co-defendant Wong Wai-keung were not liable for the alleged breach of lease terms involving space used by a consultancy firm linked to Lai. The judges stated that the lower court erred in its reasoning, leading to the quashing of their convictions and setting aside their sentences.
The case centered on allegations that Lai’s media company, Apple Daily Printing, breached a government lease agreement by allowing a consultancy firm to use part of the leased space for non-editorial purposes. Prosecutors argued this constituted fraud, while the appellate court ruled that neither Lai nor Wong owed a legal duty to disclose or act upon the alleged breach. The judges emphasized that even if such a duty existed, it could not be attributed to Lai and Wong as a matter of law.
The ruling slightly reduces Lai’s total prison term. Initially sentenced to 20 years for national security offenses and five years nine months for fraud, his sentences will now run concurrently for two years, with the remaining 18 years to be served after completing the fraud sentence. This decision highlights the complexities of Hong Kong’s legal system and raises questions about the broader implications of its national security law.
Lai’s children have expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to China could influence his release. Meanwhile, international figures like UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper have called for Lai’s
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/26/2026