Macau’s Court of First Instance found Au guilty of subversion of state power, establishing links with foreign groups or individuals to commit activities endangering national security and violation of secrecy.
“Although the defendant is a first-time offender and has admitted to a significant portion of the criminal acts, the degree of intent was extremely high, and both the unlawfulness of the conduct and the potential consequences are exceptionally grave,” TDM said, citing the court.
The court acquitted Au on two additional counts of subversion due to insufficient evidence.
The applicable range for Au’s cumulative sentence was between 11 years and 3 months and 19 years and 6 months of imprisonment, TDM said. “Following deliberation, the court imposed a single, consolidated sentence of 12 years and 6 months of imprisonment.”
Through the years, Au had championed democratic reforms and civil society initiatives in the tiny enclave that returned from Portuguese to Chinese rule in 1999 – two years after the neighbouring former British colony of Hong Kong was handed back to China.
Human Rights Watch said the proceedings were “marred by violations of due process” and the sentence handed down by the Macao government “sends a chilling message to all peaceful critics in the territory”.
Pro-democracy voices have faced an intense crackdown in the China-ruled territories since Hong Kong’s 2019 protest movement.
In February, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s most vocal China critic, was jailed for 20 years for collusion with foreign forces and sedition following a landmark trial that sparked international criticism.
