Former pro-democracy lawmaker sentenced to 12 1/2 years in Macao’s 1st national security case

HONG KONG (AP) — Macao pro-democracy former lawmaker Au Kam San was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison Friday in the Chinese casino hub’s first national security case following a closed-door trial that raised concerns about fairness.

Au’s arrest last year was the first publicly known prosecution under Macao’s national security law since it was enacted in 2009. A Macao court found him guilty of subverting state power, breach of confidentiality and establishing contact with organizations, groups or people outside Macao to commit acts endangering national security.

The 69-year-old was accused of having assisted and cooperated with “hostile organizations” outside Macao for a long period of time in collecting and disseminating political views laden with ideas of subverting state power and false information, according to a court statement. Through colluding with the organizations, he was trying to incite hatred among Macao residents against the central government, with an intent to overthrow and undermine the country’s fundamental system, it said.

Critics said his case reflected Beijing’s emphasis on security and intolerance of dissent, even though Macao’s pro-democracy movement has never been as influential as that in neighboring Hong Kong.

Macao is a former Portuguese colony that has operated, like Hong Kong, as a special administrative region since its return to Chinese rule in 1999. It has its own political and legal systems.

Au’s trial was held behind closed doors over three days in September.

The court earlier said the judge decided against an open trial to ensure that national security interests would not be undermined. It came at the request of the Public Prosecutions Office and with confirmation from the city’s national security committee, which is led by Macao Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, it said.

The court in July also said Au would be represented by a court-appointed lawyer whom authorities said was approved by him and his rights were ensured by law.

The Associated Press