Hong Kong media tycoon found guilty of fraud News
© WikiMedia (海彥, Voice of America)
Hong Kong media tycoon found guilty of fraud

Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and media entrepreneur, Tuesday was found guilty of fraud charges in a Hong Kong district court. Lai also faces charges of collusion under Hong Kong’s National Security Law and sedition. Lai is already serving a prison sentence in Hong Kong for his participation in a vigil commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre

Lai was charged with two counts of fraud. Prior to his arrest, Lai owned and operated Next Digital which published Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper. The fraud charges originated with the fact that Lai subletted a portion of the Apple Daily building to another firm also controlled by Lai. The court found that the subletting agreement was in violation of various lease agreements.

Chinese state media described Lai as a “riot instigator.” In August 2020, following the imposition of the controversial National Security Law, Hong Kong authorities arrested Lai and other protestors at Apple Daily’s headquarters. Apple Daily officially closed in 2021 following two raids by Hong Kong authorities.

Lai is currently serving a 20-month prison sentence for several 2021 charges, including “unauthorized assembly,” along with 25 other pro-democracy protestors. Lai was also charged with colluding with foreign or external forces under the National Security Law, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Lai pled not guilty to the collusion charge.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.