Macao court sentences ex-politician Au Kam-san to 12.5 years in jail

A judicial body in the territory known as the Macao court has sentenced pro-democracy former politician Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison following a closed-door national security trial. The ruling on Friday found the 69-year-old former legislator guilty of subverting state power by spreading false information during 2023 and 2024 with the intention of disrupting leadership elections in the territory.

According to the court statement, the defendant also collaborated with international hostile organisations to advance a political agenda and leaked confidential materials to overseas groups. While acknowledging that Au is a first-time offender who confessed to a substantial part of the criminal allegations, the panel stated that he displayed a high level of intent, making the unlawfulness and potential consequences very severe.

Au's arrest last year marked the first public prosecution under local security legislation introduced in 2009. Before resigning in 2021, Au worked as a teacher and served in the Beijing-dominated legislature for two decades, during which he helped organise local commemorations for the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Virginia Cheang, the wife of the convicted man, released a public letter condemning the proceedings as a politically motivated and groundless persecution intended to damage his reputation. Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Maya Wang stated that the prison term delivers an intimidating signal to peaceful critics, while urging the European Union and the Portuguese government to advocate for his freedom. Conversely, the local government in Macao as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China expressed support for the judicial decision.

Pro-democracy ex-politician Au Kam-san received a 12.5-year prison term after a closed-door security trial in Macao.

The judgment follows a separate ruling from the previous day in which imprisoned Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong received an additional ten years under national security laws. Macao operates as a special administrative region of China after transitioning from Portuguese administration in 1999.

Why it matters

The court decision marks a significant development in the enforcement of national security legislation in the territory, highlighting the strict legal consequences for individuals accused of subversion and foreign collaboration. The outcome impacts political figures, civil society, and observers monitoring regional governance and legal changes in the former Portuguese colony.