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Friday, May 14, 2021, 21:04
HK government freezes assets of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai
By Wang Zhan
Friday, May 14, 2021, 21:04 By Wang Zhan

In this file photo taken on Aug 10, 2020, police lead Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai (center) away from his home after he was arrested in Hong Kong. (VERNON YUEN / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Security Bureau said on Friday it has frozen assets belonging to jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, in the first use of seizure powers granted to authorities under the National Security Law.

READ MORE: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 14 months

The assets included all the shares of Next Digital Limited held by Lai, and the property in the local bank accounts of three companies owned by him, according to a government statement 

The assets included all the shares of Next Digital Limited held by Lai, and the property in the local bank accounts of three companies owned by him, read a government statement issued on behalf of the Security Bureau on Friday.

Citing Article 43 of the National Security Law, the bureau said “relevant persons and organizations must not, directly or indirectly, deal with certain property which is reasonably suspected to be related to offenses endangering national security.”

It added that the secretary for security may direct police officers to seize such property if he suspects it may be removed from Hong Kong.

On Dec 11, 2020, the National Security Department of the Hong Kong Police Force laid one charge of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" against Lai. On April 16, 2021, two additional charges - "conspiracy to commit collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security" and "conspiracy to do an act or a series of acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice" - were laid against him. 

ALSO READ: DoJ condemns improper remarks on HK court sentences

Lai was sentenced to 14 months in prison in April for taking part in unauthorized assemblies in 2019.

With Agencies' inputs



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