A Hong Kong court declares media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai not guilty of criminal intimidation, ending one of several cases against him after his arrest last month under a new national security law.
Mr Lai was accused of using foul language when confronting a reporter from Oriental Daily News, a major competitor to Mr Lai's tabloid Apple Daily. Police however only charged him in February this year.Prosecutors in the case said Mr Lai had intimidated the Oriental Daily reporter.
Mr Lai's lawyers argued Mr Lai had been followed by reporters for three years and his comments were not intended to harm the reporter but expressed his exasperation. Dressed in a light grey suit and green shirt, Mr Lai smiled after the verdict was read out on Thursday and shook hands with supporters who filled the courtroom.he was arrested for suspected collusion with foreign forces on August 10,The 71-year-old had been a frequent visitor to Washington, where he met officials including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to rally support for Hong Kong democracy, prompting Beijing to label him a "traitor".
After Mr Lai's August arrest, around 200 police officers searched the office of his Apple Daily newspaper. The national security law punishes anything China considers subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
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