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HONG KONG: Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai had his bail revoked after prosecutors managed to ask the city’s highest court to return him to detention.
Lai had been granted bail on December 23 after three weeks in custody on charges of fraud and endangering national security. His appeal hearing is scheduled for February 1.
The court said on Thursday (December 31) that it was “reasonably debatable” that the previous judge’s decision was wrong and that the bail order was invalid.
Lai was charged with fraud on December 3 for allegedly violating the terms of the office space lease for Next Digital, the media company he founded.
He was later indicted again on December 12 under the comprehensive national security law imposed by Beijing on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.
Lai is among a number 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 the Chinese state newspaper People’s Daily published a forceful comment on Sunday criticizing a Hong Kong court for granting Lai bail, claiming it “seriously damages the rule of law. From Hong Kong”.
The People’s Daily said Lai would not find it difficult to escape, calling it “notorious and extremely dangerous.”
He also warned that China could take over the case, in accordance with article 55 of the national security law, which states that China can “exercise jurisdiction over a case related to a crime that endangers national security.”
READ: Timeline: the impact of national security law in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong judiciary posted a 19-page sentence on its website Tuesday, setting out the reasons why High Court Judge Judge Alex Lee had granted Lai bail.
Lee said he was satisfied that there was no flight risk in Lai’s case, noting that Lai was willing to have his movements monitored if it had been a feasible option.
On Tuesday, Lai resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Next Digital, which runs the Apple Daily newspaper, according to a filing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
He did so “to spend more time dealing with these personal matters” and confirmed that he had no disagreement with the board of directors, according to the document.
