Macau ex-lawmaker sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in city’s first national security trial
A leading Macau democrat was jailed for 12.5 years on Friday on charges of subversion, in the China-ruled gambling hub's first known national security trial, local broadcaster TDM reported.
Macau's former lawmaker, Au Kam San, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for subversion, marking the first national security trial in the China-ruled territory. According to local broadcaster TDM, the 69-year-old was arrested in July 2025 for alleged collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security and was tried behind closed doors on September 16 and 18.
This comes a day after Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to 10 years in jail on a similar charge. The Macau Court of First Instance found Au guilty of subverting state power, linking with foreign groups to commit activities endangering national security, and violating secrecy. While the court acquitted him on two additional counts due to insufficient evidence, the cumulative sentence of 12 years and 6 months was deemed extremely grave.
Human Rights Watch condemned the proceedings, stating they were marred by violations of due process and warned of a chilling effect on peaceful critics in the territory.
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- Macau ex-lawmaker sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in city’s first national security trial freemalaysiatoday.com
- China's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial lemonde.fr
- Ex-lawmaker jailed in Macau's first national security trial dw.com
- Macau ex-lawmaker sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in city's first national security trial channelnewsasia.com
- Macau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case bbc.co.uk
