Macao court sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail

What the report says

A Macao court has sentenced pro-democracy former politician Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison after a closed-door national security trial, according to Al Jazeera. The court said the 69-year-old was guilty of subverting state power by spreading false information in 2023 and 2024 in an effort to disrupt Macao’s 2024 leadership election. Judges also found that he worked with overseas groups described as “hostile organisations” and shared confidential information with them.

Al Jazeera reported that Au was a former primary school teacher and one of Macao’s longest-serving pro-democracy lawmakers, serving in the Beijing-dominated legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. His arrest last year was described as the first public prosecution under Macao’s 2009 national security law. The article also noted his role in helping organise Macao’s commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.

In a statement cited by the outlet, the court said Au was a first-time offender but had shown a high degree of intent and that the alleged harm was serious. Au’s wife, Virginia Cheang, said in a public letter that the case amounted to political persecution. Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director also said the sentence would chill peaceful criticism and called for international pressure over his release.

The case comes amid broader concern over tightening political controls in Macao and Hong Kong, both former Portuguese and British colonies that are now special administrative regions of China.