Macau Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced to 12½ Years in City's First National Security Trial

Former Macau lawmaker Au Kam-san has been convicted on five out of seven charges in the region's first national security trial, resulting in a prison sentence of 12 years and six months. The Court of First Instance in Macau delivered the verdict on Friday, finding the 69-year-old guilty on four counts under the city's national security law, specifically for subversion of state power and establishing links with foreign groups or individuals to commit activities endangering national security. Additionally, the court ruled him guilty on a fifth count regarding the violation of another unspecified charge under the same legal framework. The sentencing follows a closed-door trial that concluded with the conviction of the pro-democracy campaigner. Reports indicate that Au Kam-san was arrested in July 2025 on allegations of collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. The trial proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, a detail that has raised concerns among observers regarding the transparency of the process. While the court upheld the conviction on the majority of charges, the specific details of the fifth count were not fully elaborated in the available summaries, though it was part of the five-count conviction that led to the 12½-year term. The case marks a significant legal milestone as the first national security trial in Macau, drawing attention from international media outlets covering the event. #NexSouk #AIForGood #EthicalAI #GlobalPolitics #LegalMilestones **References** * SCMP: 12½ years' jail for ex-Macau lawmaker Au Kam-san in city's first national security trial. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373482/12-1/2-years-jail-ex-macau-lawmaker-au-kam-san-citys-first-national-security-trial * BBC: Macau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmdx33v9vvr2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss * ABC News: Former pro-democracy lawmaker sentenced to 12 1/2 years in Macao's 1st national security case. https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/former-pro-democracy-lawmaker-sentenced-12-12-years-137899620 * Channel News Asia: Macau ex-lawmaker sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in city's first national security trial. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/macau-ex-lawmaker-125-years-prison-first-national-security-trial-6530286 **Political Bias Index** **Green (Neutral)**