China

Macau Convicts Former Lawmaker Au Kam San in First National Security Case

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By Fuhua Hung/Irene Lin

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In a historic legal development for Macau, 69-year-old former pro-democracy legislator Au Kam San has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for subversion of state power under the territory's amended National Security Law. Arrested after held incommunicado for nearly a year, Au faced a secret, closed-door trial with a government-appointed defense lawyer. Speaking with TaiwanPlus, Michael Polak, director of Justice Abroad and Au’s international counsel, criticized the lack of specific evidence, noting that routine engagements with foreign bodies like the EU office were framed as anti-China activity. Polak warned that Macau’s eroding judicial independence signals a direct alignment with Beijing's crackdowns, threatening civil liberties and foreign business confidence.

Macau's First National Security Case

REPORTER:  
A former pro-democracy lawmaker in Macau has been sentenced under the national security law, the first such case in the territory.

69-year-old Au Kam San was found guilty of subversion of state power. He has been sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison after being held for one year incommunicado. Prosecutors say Au had been colluding with foreign forces, and arrested him last July. He was represented by a government-appointed lawyer in a closed-door trial this September.