Court says Macau’s first national security case has concluded

Macau’s first national security trial, involving former lawmaker Au Kam San, concluded behind closed doors Friday, the Court of First Instance (TJB) said, two days after proceedings began  last Wednesday.

In a statement, the court said it had decided to issue its judgment at a later date, in a case that could carry a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

According to earlier reports, Au, 69, was charged with allegedly providing false information to an overseas anti-China organization in a bid to incite hatred against Beijing and the Macau government. He became the first person arrested under Macau’s expanded national security law and the first defendant to face a closed-door trial. Details of the case have remained largely undisclosed since it entered the court system..

According to the court, TJB, at the request of the Public Prosecutions Office and after confirmation by the National Security Committee, ruled that the case would be heard in non-public proceedings to avoid damage to national security interests. The court did not disclose details of the proceedings.