HKSAR's top court orders Jimmy Lai to remain in custody

HONG KONG -- The Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday ordered Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, an instigator of the Hong Kong riots, to remain in custody before his trial over crimes including those against national security.

Lai has been charged with crimes including fraud and colluding with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security, and appeared in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for trial on Dec 3 and 12, 2020 respectively. The two cases were adjourned and Lai's bail applications were rejected.

On Dec 23, 2020, Lai applied to the High Court of the HKSAR for bail and succeeded. Unsatisfied with the court's decision, the Department of Justice of the HKSAR government applied to the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR for leave to appeal and requested that Lai be remanded in custody pending the issuance of the appeal verdict.

The Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR granted leave for the appeal application on Dec 31, 2020 and Lai was remanded in custody immediately. The top court handled the case on Feb 1, 2021 and made the ruling on Tuesday.