Macao former lawmaker Au Kam San was sentenced to 12½ years in prison Friday in the territory’s first national security case following a closed-door trial.
The Story
A Macao court sentenced pro-democracy former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12½ years in prison on Friday in what the court said was the first prosecution publicly known under Macao’s national security law since it was enacted in 2009.
The court found Au guilty of subverting state power, breach of confidentiality and establishing contact with organizations, groups or people outside Macao to commit acts endangering national security.
According to a court statement, prosecutors accused Au of having assisted and cooperated with “hostile organizations” outside Macao for a long period of time, including collecting and disseminating political views described as laden with ideas of subverting state power and false information.
The statement said Au, through colluding with those organizations, was trying to incite hatred among Macao residents against the central government, with an intent to overthrow and undermine China’s fundamental system.
Au is 69. He previously served as a teacher and later a lawmaker, serving for 20 years in a legislature dominated by Beijing loyalists before stepping down in 2021.
The court said Au’s trial was held behind closed doors in September, with the judge deciding against an open trial to ensure national security interests would not be undermined, at the request of the Public Prosecutions Office and with confirmation from Macao’s national security committee.
Macao returned to Chinese rule in 1999 and operates as a special administrative region with its own political and legal systems. It is the only Chinese city where casino gambling is legal.
← More stories