Au Kam San sentenced to 12½ years in Macau’s first national security trial

A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 years and six months in prison after convicting him in the territory’s first national security case. The coverage also notes his political activities and concerns raised about the closed-door proceedings.

• The 69-year-old former lawmaker was sentenced on Friday to 12 years and six months in prison.· 1 source
• The case was Macau’s first national security prosecution publicly known since the law was implemented in 2009; The Hindu describes Au as the first person convicted under laws widened in 2023.· 2 sources
• The court convicted Au of several offences, including subversion; the South China Morning Post says he was convicted on five of seven charges.· 2 sources
• The court said Au supplied information to outside organisations and sought to incite opposition to Macau’s government and Beijing.· 1 source
• Au’s trial was held behind closed doors over three days and ended in September; critics raised concerns about fairness.· 1 source