Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was remanded in custody Thursday as he waits for an appeal hearing on whether to keep him locked up pending his trial on fraud and national security offense charges, the city's top court ruled.
Lai, the founder of Next Digital Ltd., which publishes the outspoken Apple Daily newspaper, was scheduled to face trial on fraud and national security law offenses in April. He was granted bail by an appellate court judge last Wednesday with a HK$10 million ($1.3 million) cash bond while under house arrest-like conditions.
A three-judge panel at the Court of Final Appeal ruled that it is "reasonably arguable" that the lower court judge erred in deciding to grant bail to Lai through his understanding of bail requirement in the national security law.
"The court will determine the meaning of (National Security Law) Article 42(2) and, having done so, will decide whether the judge fell into error in his approach to the grant of bail," the judges ruled while adding that it would not be right to continue Lai's bail "since that would assume the validity of the judge's order."
The appeal hearing is set for Feb. 1, 2021.
Lai was accused of requesting that a foreign country, organization or individual impose sanctions or blockade or engage in other hostile acts against Hong Kong or China between July 1 and Dec. 1 this year, according to the indictment against him.
He was indicted along with two associates earlier in December on a fraud charge over a land-use violation involving his media office.
The national security law -- enacted by the National People's Congress Standing Committee and imposed on Hong Kong on June 30 -- outlaws acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
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