South Africa, Feb. 9 -- Defunct

Lai, 78, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily and a British citizen, was convicted on 15 December on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious material. He has been in detention since December 2020.

Six former Apple Daily editors and executives, who had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, were also sentenced. Their prison terms range from six years and nine months to ten years. The Apple Daily ceased operations in 2021 after authorities froze its assets and conducted multiple raids on its offices.

Call for his release

Lai has spent much of his detention in solitary confinement. According to his famil...