Jimmy Lai wins appeal in TKO illegal use of land case

已複製連結

Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Digital, was convicted of fraud in a case involving the illegal use of land in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate. His appeal was successful, and his conviction and sentence were overturned.

The appellants were Jimmy Lai and Wong Wai-keung, the then-executive director of Next Digital. Neither appeared in court.

This case involves the period from 2016 to 2020, during which the two allowed Dico Consultants to use the Next Digital building in the Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, concealing the illegal use of the technology park. 

In 2022, they were convicted of fraud. Lai was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months imprisonment, and Wong Wai-keung to 1 year and 9 months imprisonment. They have already served their sentences.

The Court of Appeal issued its judgment, stating that based on the evidence in this case, the prosecution failed to prove, without reasonable doubt, that the applicant had made a false statement, namely, claiming that the premises had always been used for the specified purpose. 

78-year-old Jimmy Lai was also sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for violating the National Security Law and will continue to serve his sentence.