HONG KONG (AP) – Hong Kong’s highest court on Thursday revoked media mogul Jimmy Lai’s bail after prosecutors managed to ask judges to return him to detention.
Lai was bailed on December 23 after three weeks in custody on charges of fraud and endangering national security. His hearing on appeal is scheduled for February 1.
The court said Thursday that it was “reasonably justifiable” that the previous judge’s decision was incorrect and that the bail order was invalid.
Lai is one of many pro-democracy activists and supporters arrested by Hong Kong police in recent months as authorities crack down on dissent on semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
He was charged with fraud on December 3 for alleged violation of the lease terms for office space for the media company Next Digital, which he founded. He was later charged again on December 12 under the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security.
Lai entered the Court of Final Appeal without commenting to supporters and media, many of whom surrounded the tycoon as he walked into the courtroom. His bail terms include submitting his travel documents and a ban on meeting with foreign officials, publishing articles on all media, posting on social media and conducting interviews.
The Chinese state newspaper People’s Daily posted strong wording on Sunday criticizing the court for granting bail to Lai, saying it “seriously damaged Hong Kong’s rule of law.”
The People’s Daily said it would not be difficult for Lai to go into hiding, calling him “infamous and extremely dangerous.” It also warned that China could take over the case, under Article 55 of the National Security Law, which states that China “can exercise jurisdiction over a case involving a crime that endangers national security.”
The Hong Kong judiciary posted a 19-page judgment on its website on Tuesday, outlining the reasons why Supreme Court Judge Alex Lee had granted Lai bail. Lee said he was convinced there was no flight risk in Lai’s case, and noted that Lai was willing to have his movements monitored if this had been a viable option.
On Tuesday, Lai resigned as chairman and executive director of Next Digital, which heads Apple Daily newspaper, according to an application filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He did this “to spend more time handling these personal matters” and confirmed that he did not disagree with the board, the filing said.