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

A Macao court has sentenced pro-democracy ex-politician Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison after a closed-door national security trial. The ruling on Friday found 69-year-old Au guilty of subverting state power by spreading false information in 2023-2024 to disrupt Macao’s 2024 leadership election. The court said in a statement that Au also worked with “hostile organisations” abroad to spread a political agenda, and leaked confidential information to groups overseas.

“Although the defendant is a first-time offender and admitted to a considerable portion of the criminal facts, he demonstrated a high degree of intent. The degree of unlawfulness and the potential consequences of his crimes are both very serious,” the statement said. “From a closed-door trial to a public verdict, what kind of operation is this?

It’s a political trial and it’s a groundless persecution to humiliate one’s character,” Cheang wrote. A former teacher, Au sat in the Beijing-dominated legislature for 20 years before resigning in 2021.