Macao Justice: Ex-Legislator Faces 12.5 Years in First Security Trial

A Macao court sentenced Au Kam San to 12 and a half years in prison on Friday, marking the first publicly known conviction under the territory's national security law. The 69-year-old former lawmaker was found guilty of subverting state power and breaching confidentiality. The judge determined that Au contacted organizations outside the region to collect and spread political views intended to undermine the central government.

The trial took place behind closed doors, a decision that critics say compromised the fairness of the proceedings. The court stated that Au conspired to incite hatred against Beijing with the goal of overthrowing the country's fundamental system. Although Au was a first-time offender who admitted to some facts, the judge noted a high degree of intent. The ruling emphasized that the unlawfulness and potential consequences of the crimes were severe.

Au's wife, Virginia Cheang, called the process a political trial and a groundless persecution designed to humiliate her husband's character. She expressed frustration that the family simply wanted regular visits and letter exchanges without conditions. Cheang questioned the logic of a secret trial followed by a public verdict. Her daughter, Au Hon I, who lives in London, described her father as a peaceful family man. She said the idea of him spending years in prison without committing a criminal act was unbearable. She also noted that a lawyer previously arranged by the family was unable to see her father.

Legal experts and international observers have raised concerns about the secrecy of the case. Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer practicing in Macao, argued that the court's statement was misleading because it did not explicitly state that Au pleaded guilty. Menezes pointed out that key details, such as the specific organizations involved, remained unrevealed. He suggested the case sends a message to anyone challenging authorities in Macao or potentially Hong Kong. Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, urged Portugal and the European Union to allow the Portuguese citizen to leave the territory. Polak described the sentence as effectively life imprisonment for a man of Au's age, warning he could die in prison.

The court findings covered actions between 2023 and 2024, during which Au allegedly helped overseas groups spread distorted information to induce foreign hostility against China and Macao. As a lawmaker in 2021, he was also found to have leaked confidential information from closed-door committee meetings on gaming license renewals. The judge had earlier declined an open trial to protect national security interests. Au, a former teacher, served in the legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. He was known for mild critiques of government measures on social media and in interviews. The Macao government supported the ruling, urging all sectors to respect it and stating it would continue to strictly enforce the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said the ruling demonstrated Macao's firm resolve in safeguarding national security. China's Foreign Ministry stated that it firmly opposes external forces using individual cases to interfere in Macao's affairs.