What we know
What we know: Former pro-democracy lawmaker sentenced to 12 1/2 years in Macao’s 1st national security case
Compiled Nov 6
What we know
- 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
- The trial was held behind closed doors in September
- A Macao court found Au guilty of subverting state power, breaching confidentiality, and contacting outside organizations to endanger national security
- Au served as a lawmaker in Macao's legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021
- Au was an organizer of Macao's commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown
- The Macao government and Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office both supported the ruling
What we don’t know yet
- Whether a lawyer chosen by Au's family was allowed to see him in prison is disputed: family says no, court says a lawyer approved by Au represented him
- Whether Au's family will be allowed unconditional letter exchanges and regular visits going forward is unresolved per his wife's public letter
- Critics dispute whether the trial and verdict were fair, calling it a 'political trial' and 'groundless persecution'
Open questions
- Will Au's family be granted unconditional visits and letter exchanges as his wife requested?
- Will Portugal or the European Union intervene on behalf of Au, a Portuguese citizen?
- What specific 'false information' or 'political views' did Au disseminate that led to the conviction?
- Will Au or his legal team pursue an appeal of the verdict?
Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.