Macao Lawmaker Gets 12.5 Years

Au Kam San, a former pro-democracy lawmaker in Macao, received a sentence of 12.5 years in prison on Friday. A local court handed down the verdict in the first national security case in the Chinese casino hub since the relevant law was enacted in 2009.

The judge found the 69-year-old guilty of subverting state power, breaching confidentiality, and establishing contact with outside groups to commit acts endangering national security. According to a court statement, Au assisted hostile organizations for a long period in collecting and disseminating political views intended to subvert state power. The statement claimed these groups conspired to incite hatred among residents against the central government with the intent to overthrow the country's fundamental system.

The trial took place behind closed doors in September. The judge ruled against an open proceeding to ensure that national security interests were not undermined. The court stated that a lawyer approved by Au acted for him during the proceedings and that he exercised his right to defense. The court also approved the family's request for regular visits.

Virginia Cheang, Au's wife, criticized the legal process in a public letter. She described the move from a closed-door trial to a public verdict as a political trial and groundless persecution. Her daughter, Au Hon I, told The Associated Press that the ruling sets boundaries for citizen rights. She said the situation feels like a scary chapter and that Macao no longer feels like a safe space.

Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer practicing in Macao, noted that specific details regarding the organizations involved and the information provided by Au were not revealed. He argued that the court statement implied Au acknowledged facts, which might lead people to believe he confessed, although he did not plead guilty. Menezes said the case sends a message to residents that challenging authorities is risky and could serve as a laboratory for Hong Kong.

The European Union deplored the sentencing, stating that the conviction confirmed the erosion of political pluralism and freedom of speech in the city. The EU noted that Au had spent nearly a year in incommunicado detention following his arrest. Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, urged Portugal and the EU to demand that the Portuguese citizen be allowed to leave Macao, warning that a sentence of that length for a man of that age is effectively a sentence for life.

The court found that Au helped overseas organizations spread false and distorted information between 2023 and 2024. The goal was to induce foreign countries to take hostile actions against China and Macao and to undermine the 2024 city leader election. As a lawmaker in 2021, Au leaked confidential information from closed-door committee meetings regarding the renewal of gaming licenses.

The Macao government supported the ruling and urged all sectors to respect it, stating it would continue to strictly enforce the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said the ruling demonstrated Macao's resolve in safeguarding national security. China's Foreign Ministry said it firmly opposes external forces using individual cases as a pretext to interfere in Macao's affairs.