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#Court #LegalTerrorism
Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’

The Hong Kong judicial system has been adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence, in which a defendant is innocent before conviction and should not be imprisoned unless there is sufficient reason to do so.

However, Jimmy Lai, founder of Apple Daily, who was charged by the police for fraud, as well as several defendants in cases related to the National Security Law were all denied bail by appointed judges and are imprisoned without trial.

A barrister worried that if the defendants whom the prosecution alleges are involved in a national security case will be denied bail, citizens will question whether the court has been reduced to merely symbolic.

Human rights organizations have also been heavily criticizing that these imprisonment before conviction are a serious violation of human rights.

The National Security appointed judge, Chief Magistrate Victor So denied Jimmy Lai’s application for bail. Lai will be remanded in custody until April 2021, which means he will be imprisoned for at least 4 months.

The senior officers of Next Digital, Chow Tat Kuen and Wong Wai Keung who were also charged with fraud were granted bail.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec4
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201204/B34MREBSERBMDJE7FMX42JAAWM/

#NationalSecurityLaw #FreeJimmy #JimmyLai #Judge #Injustice #Bail