The High Court of Hong Kong on December 23 granted bail to the founder of Next Media, Lai Chi-ying, who had been scabbarded for several days, pending a retrial in the cases of alleged “collusion with foreign powers” and “land lease fraud,” which is the first time that a defendant on a charge under the Hong Kong National Security Law has been granted bail. It is reported that the Hong Kong Department of Justice has appealed to the Court of Final Appeal on the 24th, requesting that Lai Chi-ying be detained again while awaiting leave to appeal, but there is no hearing date for the time being.
The Hong Kong High Court ruled on Wednesday that Lai Chi-ying should be granted bail, while the prosecution said it would appeal to the Court of Final Appeal. According to Apple Daily, the Department of Justice filed an appeal document on Thursday, marked “URGENT”. The Department of Justice also applied for an interim order to remand Lai Chi-ying in custody pending the processing of the leave to appeal. The Department of Justice also asked the Court of Final Appeal to hold an urgent hearing, including one on a public holiday.
The 73-year-old applied to the High Court for bail, which was granted on multiple conditions by National Security Law Designated Judge Lee Yun-teng. Representatives of the Department of Justice applied for a certificate of material legal argument for appeal to the Court of Final Appeal, and also invoked the ordinance to request that the status quo of the scabbard be temporarily maintained, but Judge Lee refused to accept it.
It is understood that Lai Chi-ying’s bail conditions include surrendering $10 million in cash, not requesting foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China directly or indirectly, not meeting with foreign officials, not receiving any form of interviews, including television, radio or online programs, and not publishing articles and information in paper, online and social media. In addition, except for attending court and reporting to the police station, Lai Chi-ying is not allowed to leave his reported place of residence, and he is not allowed to leave Hong Kong and must surrender his travel documents. Three other persons have vouched for Lai Chi-ying.
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