Jimmy Lai Wins Fraud Appeal as Trump Prepares for Visit to China

The Hong Kong Court of Appeal overturned fraud convictions against media mogul Jimmy Lai and Wong Wai-keung following a ruling that the prosecution failed to prove false representations. Although this decision nullifies a previous sentence from 2022, Jimmy Lai will remain in prison due to a separate 20-year sentence for national security violations. The White House confirmed that Donald Trump will soon visit Beijing as family members hope the trip facilitates a diplomatic release. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has joined international calls for the release of Jimmy Lai on humanitarian grounds.The DOJ stated it would thoroughly study the judgment and consider an appeal while maintaining the case has no relation to media independence.Appellate judges determined that the defendants did not have a duty to disclose the use of office space by a private consultancy firm.The ruling might reduce the total prison time for Jimmy Lai but his ongoing detention for collusion remains the primary obstacle to his freedom.