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Business · 9 February 2026

British tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed 20 years as son claims death sentence

British tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed 20 years as son claims death sentence

美国之音莉雅 via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

A Hong Kong court sentences 78-year-old British tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison for national security offenses. Lai’s son Sebastien brands the ruling a "death sentence" given his father's age. The verdict marks the harshest penalty under the city's security law, sparking outrage from UK and US officials. Six co-defendants received sentences between 6 and 10 years, while Beijing maintains the decision is "reasonable and legal."

Reported by BBC · How we write briefs

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