Overview
- The Court of Appeal overturned the fraud convictions of Jimmy Lai and co-defendant Wong Wai-keung and set aside their sentences.
- Judges found prosecutors failed to prove false representation and said the trial judge erred in law, including on any duty to disclose a lease breach.
- Hong Kong’s Department of Justice said it will study the judgment and consider whether to seek a further appeal.
- Lai remains in prison on a 20-year sentence from a separate national security case, with any reduction in total time limited because only two years had been ordered to overlap.
- The fraud case stemmed from allegations over Dico Consultants’ use of office space at Apple Daily’s headquarters, and the outcome prompted renewed calls from rights groups and foreign governments for Lai’s release amid family concerns about his health.