Jimmy Lai Intimidation Case Verdict On September 3

The West Kowloon Magistracy will deliver its verdict on September 3 in the case against Next Media founder Jimmy Lai, who is accused of intimidating a reporter from rival paper Oriental Daily.

In their concluding remarks, lawyers for the Department of Justice told the court Lai's threat against the reporter – who’s said to have been following the tycoon around on June 4, 2017 – must have meant a physical injury and not anything else.

Lai, who was arrested over the incident afterwards, had told police that the remarks were made on the spur of the moment as he was annoyed by the fact that reporters from Oriental Daily had been stalking him for years.

But making a final speech to wrap up her case today, the prosecutor said the event must be put in context.

She said Lai was at a public gathering where reporters had the right to be present, and if Lai felt uncomfortable being photographed, he should have left instead of walking up to the reporter and threatening him.

Prosecution said “animosity” between Apple Daily and Oriental Daily could not justify Lai intimidating the reporter, identified only as X in court, who the prosecutor said was only discharging his duty on that day.

Prosecution also noted Lai admitted X had kept a distance and did not do anything to provoke him on that day.

The lawyer for the government also suggested that when Lai said “mess you up”, he must have meant a threat to physical injury, instead of legal action, as the tycoon later claimed.

Defence lawyer, meanwhile, argued that Lai’s reaction was reasonable, as he had been experiencing pressure from Oriental Daily’s report on him “almost daily for something like three years”.

He was swearing as he scolded the reporter, the lawyer contended, but added: “It is, we submit, entirely understandable that the defendant would let off steam in this sort of circumstances.”