Macao Court Hands Down 12.5-Year Sentence in First National Security Trial

Macao court officials sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 and a half years in prison on Friday. This marks the first known prosecution under the territory's national security law since the statute was enacted in 2009.

The court found Au guilty of subverting state power and breaching confidentiality. It also ruled that he established contact with outside organizations to commit acts that endangered national security. The verdict followed a trial held entirely behind closed doors in September.

A court statement explained that the 69-year-old worked with hostile groups for a long period. It said they collected and shared political views and false information with the intent to overthrow the country's fundamental system. The judges noted that despite Au being a first-time offender who admitted to some facts, his intent was high and the potential consequences were serious.

Virginia Cheang, Au's wife, issued a public letter calling the process a groundless persecution. She asked for the right to exchange letters and visit her husband regularly without conditions. Cheang described the move from a secret trial to a public verdict as an operation designed to humiliate her husband's character.

Au's daughter, Au Hon I, who lives in London, told the Associated Press that the ruling sets new boundaries for citizens. She said her father is a peaceful family man and that the prospect of him spending more years in prison was unbearable. She noted that a lawyer previously arranged by the family was unable to see him before the trial.

Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer practicing in Macao, criticized the lack of transparency. He pointed out that specific details about the overseas organizations and the information provided were not revealed. Menezes argued that the court statement's wording about Au acknowledging facts was misleading. He suggested this made it seem as though Au had pleaded guilty when he had not.

Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, urged Portugal and the European Union to demand that Au be allowed to leave Macao. Polak described the sentence as a life term given Au's age. He warned that if Au remained in the local prison system, he could die there.

The court detailed that Au colluded with overseas groups between 2023 and 2024. It stated he helped spread distorted information to induce foreign nations to take hostile actions against China and Macao. The ruling also cited a 2021 incident where Au leaked confidential information from closed-door committee meetings regarding gaming license renewals.

Au served in the legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. He was a teacher who entered politics to address social problems. He was also an organizer of local commemorations for the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Before his arrest, he was known for mild critiques of government measures on social media.

The Macao government supported the ruling and urged all sectors to respect it. It said it would continue to strictly enforce the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office stated that the verdict shows a firm resolve to safeguard national security. China's Foreign Ministry said it firmly opposes external forces using the case to interfere in Macao's affairs.