Explained: Former pro-democracy lawmaker sentenced to 12 1/2 years in Macao’s 1st national security case

Au Kam San was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison in Macao's first national security case since the law was enacted in 2009

national security law

Macao law enacted in 2009 used to prosecute acts deemed to endanger state security; this was its first known public prosecution

special administrative region

A Chinese region, like Macao or Hong Kong, that retains its own political and legal systems after returning to Chinese rule

Public Prosecutions Office

The Macao government body that requested the closed-door trial on national security grounds

national security committee

Macao body led by the Chief Executive that confirmed the request for a closed trial

Tiananmen Square crackdown

The 1989 Beijing crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, commemorations of which Au helped organize in Macao