Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai denied bail as Pompeo tweets assistance

The Apple Each day, a feisty professional-democracy tabloid owned by Lai, reported he is accused of inquiring a overseas place, firm or person to impose sanctions or interact in other hostile functions versus Hong Kong or China.

His situation was adjourned to April 16 at the request of prosecutors, who reported police wanted time to review far more than 1,000 tweets and reviews designed on his Twitter account, the Apple Everyday described.

The newspaper mentioned his charge sheet shown many foreign politicians who followed Lai on Twitter and cited commentaries he wrote and interviews he did with international media.

Lai, who was presently remaining held on other fraud costs following law enforcement raided his media company, could be noticed handcuffed to a chain all-around his midsection as guards led him to a van to go from prison to court docket. He wore a navy blazer and an open up-neck shirt.

Beijing imposed the nationwide protection law on Hong Kong before this yr after stormy protests in 2019 that commenced over an extradition monthly bill and expanded to involve calls for for higher democracy in the former British colony.

The new law outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with international forces to intervene in Hong Kong’s affairs. It has constricted free speech in the city, and democracy activists see it as a way to suppress dissent.

U.S. Secretary of Condition Mike Pompeo tweeted Saturday early morning Asia time that the protection legislation “makes a mockery of justice.” He called for Lai’s release, indicating his only crime is talking the reality about China’s authoritarian Communist Bash authorities.

Lai, the best-profile human being charged less than the security regulation, has also been arrested for other alleged offenses this 12 months. He has been billed with having portion in unauthorized protests and with fraud above alleged violations of workplace lease conditions.

He has advocated for other nations to choose a harsher stance on China, and met with Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence in the U.S. very last yr to examine the extradition monthly bill, which the Hong Kong federal government sooner or later withdrew.

Pence also tweeted about Lai, saying the expenses in opposition to him are “an affront to freedom loving individuals all over almost everywhere.”

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