Macao Lawmaker Sentenced to 12.5 Years

Au Kam San, a 69-year-old former lawmaker in Macao, received a prison sentence of 12 and a half years on Friday. The verdict marks the first public prosecution under Macao's national security law since the statute took effect in 2009. The conviction followed a trial conducted behind closed doors that began in September.

A Macao court found Au guilty of subverting state power, breaching confidentiality, and contacting organizations outside the territory to commit acts endangering national security. The court statement said Au assisted hostile groups for a long period. It alleged that these groups collected and spread political views intended to overthrow the country's fundamental system.

The court detailed that between 2023 and 2024, Au helped overseas organizations disseminate false information. The goal was to induce foreign countries to take hostile actions against China and Macao. The ruling also cited his role as a lawmaker in 2021, when he allegedly leaked confidential gaming license information to foreign groups during closed-door committee meetings.

The trial was held in secret to protect national security interests, according to the court. Au's defense was represented by a lawyer approved by the court. The judge noted that while Au was a first-time offender who admitted to many facts, he showed a high degree of intent. The court stated that the potential consequences of his crimes were very serious.

Au's family criticized the process. Virginia Cheang, his wife, called the proceeding a political trial in a public letter. She described it as groundless persecution intended to humiliate her husband. Their daughter, Au Hon I, who lives in London, said the ruling feels like a scary new chapter for citizens in Macao. She noted that a family-hired lawyer was initially unable to see her father.

Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer in Macao, said the secret trial failed to reveal which organizations were involved. He argued that the court's language suggested Au confessed, even though he did not plead guilty. Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, urged Portugal and the European Union to demand that the Portuguese citizen be allowed to leave Macao. Polak said the sentence could effectively last for life given Au's age.

The Macao government supported the ruling and said it would continue to enforce the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office stated the verdict showed Macao's resolve to safeguard national security. China's Foreign Ministry opposed external interference in Macao's affairs, noting that individual cases should not be used as a pretext for outside involvement.