Jimmy Lai Arrested on Another Charge

Lai was arrested and charged with helping 12 fugitives flee

 

It was a surprise to hear Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying -- who is already remanded for several charges, including breaching the national security law -- to be arrested again.

This time he was arrested for allegedly helping the 12 fugitives flee to Taiwan in August, though they were intercepted by the Guangdong coastguard.

A legal assistant allegedly helped Andy Li (above)

Early Monday morning a 29-year-old legal assistant was arrested and this morning charged for allegedly conspiring with Lai, activist Andy Li Yu-hin, and others in colluding with foreign forces.

Lai was arrested and charged under the national security law for "conspiracy to assist an offender", and "conspiracy to collude with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security", which has a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The legal assistant, Chan Tsz-wah was also accused of conspiring with Lai, Li and others to help Li leave Hong Kong and escape prosecution.

Prosecutors claimed Chan conspired with Lai, and the media tycoon's right-hand man, Mark Simon, Li, Lau Cho-dik and others "to request a foreign country or an institution, organization or individual outside the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau... to impose sanctions or blockade or engage in other hostile activities against [Hong Kong] or People's Republic of China".

Simon allegedly conspired "to assist offenders"

The offense allegedly took place between last July and Monday when Chan was arrested. Simon and Lau are still wanted in connection with the case.

Last October Chan was arrested for allegedly helping the dozen fugitives flee to Taiwan, charged for one count of "conspiracy to assist an offender" in connection with Li's escape attempt. 

Did Lai really get involved in this incident? What evidence do prosecutors have?

In the meantime we may catch a glimpse of Lai again tomorrow when he appears in High Court for his bail review hearing...