A group of current and former politicians from nine countries has offered to present evidence in the ongoing trial of imprisoned tycoon Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. Mr Lai, 76, could face life imprisonment if found guilty of sedition and collusion under Hong Kong’s national security law. The politicians are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and have criticized the lack of outreach by Hong Kong authorities for witness statements.
Former UK Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, former Japanese defense minister Gen Nakatani, and others have mentioned in court but not called as witnesses. The foreign politicians claim to have evidence crucial for the trial and believe that avoiding their testimony undermines the integrity of the process.
With Mr. Lai’s trial expected to last nearly 80 days, IPAC’s executive director Luke de Pulford believes that their evidence is essential for revealing the truth. The US and UK have condemned the trial as an attack on freedom of expression. Stay updated on this developing story by signing up for our free breaking news emails.
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