Jimmy Lai arrives at a court in Hong Kong in September.Credit:AP
Lai,73,was later released on bail but police raided his company’s offices in October and took away documents.
On Wednesday,Lai and two Next Digital executives were charged with fraud over accusations that they violated lease terms for Next Digital office space. On Thursday he was denied bail and his case adjourned till April 16.
The move comes a day after a court sentenced prominent democracy activistJoshua Wong to more than 13 months in prison over an unlawful anti-government rally in 2019,the toughest sentence for an opposition figure this year.
Jailed:Hong Kong activists,from right,Joshua Wong,Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow.Credit:AP
They also jailed Wong's colleagues Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam for 10 and seven months,respectively. Chow speaks fluent Japanese and is well-known in Japan,prompting the Japanese government to speak out against the sentencing.
"Japan increasingly has grave concerns about the recent Hong Kong situation such as sentences against three including Agnes Chow,"chief government spokesman Katsunobu told a regular news conference on Thursday.