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Thursday, December 03, 2020, 23:07
Jimmy Lai denied bail in fraud case
By Gang Wen
Thursday, December 03, 2020, 23:07 By Gang Wen

A Hong Kong Correctional Services vehicle carrying media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying leaves the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong on Dec 3, 2020. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

A Hong Kong magistrate on Thursday denied a bail application by media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was charged with fraud along with two other executives of his Next Digital media company.

Lai was charged with fraud when he reported to the police on Wednesday with other two other senior executives of the company, Chow Tat-kuen and Wong Wai-keung. 

Chief Magistrate of West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts Victor So Wai-tak rejected Lai’s bail application citing a flight risk and risk of repeating the offense

The three are among 10 arrested in August on suspicion of collusion with foreign or external forces to endanger national security, and conspiracy to commit fraud and sedition. 

Chief Magistrate of West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts Victor So Wai-tak rejected Lai’s bail application citing a flight risk and risk of repeating the offense after taking into consideration of the nature of the case and relevant regulations of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance.

ALSO READ: Jimmy Lai, 23 others appear in HK court over illegal assembly

The prosecution claimed the trio had spent significant time away from Hong Kong in recent years. It cited travel records showing that Lai left the city 87 times since July 2017, while Chow and Wong left 127 times and 51 times respectively.

A vehicle of Hong Kong Correctional Services, with Next Media founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on board, leaves the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong on December 3, 2020. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

The prosecution noted that Lai has few local ties, but maintains close connections with other countries and has businesses in Taiwan, which didn’t sign an agreement on mutual legal assistance with Hong Kong. It warned about his risk of absconding.

The three were accused of lying to Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and breaching the land-lease terms in using Next Digital's office in Tseung Kwan O from June 2016 to May 2020.

According to local media reports, Chow and Wong were released on bail. Both were forbidden to leave the city and ordered to report to the police regularly. The case was adjourned until April 16.

READ MORE: Jimmy Lai arrested under National Security Law


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