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Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years Amid Appeals Push

2/24/2026

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Jimmy Lai Sentenced

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years for national security offences on February 9.
He has two weeks to appeal.
His international legal team urges global leaders to advocate for release.
Lai also serves a five-year, nine-month fraud sentence, with release dates ranging from June to May 2028, depending on good behavior.

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Claire Lai Attends

Speaker Mike Johnson announced Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned media mogul Jimmy Lai, will attend the State of the Union address.
Johnson pledged the United States will secure Lai's release ahead of President Donald Trump's upcoming trip to Beijing.
Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years for national security offenses.
Claire Lai described the sentence as heartbreakingly cruel and warned it could turn her father into a martyr.

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Jimmy Lai Sentenced

Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, founder of Apple Daily, was sentenced to 20 years for national security offences on February 9.
He has two weeks to appeal.
His international legal team urges global leaders to advocate for release.
Lai also serves a five-year, nine-month fraud sentence, with release dates ranging from June to May 2028, depending on good behavior.

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