Former Lawmaker Jailed in Macau's First National Security Trial
Pro-democracy former lawmaker Au Kam San was sentenced to **12 and a half years** in prison in Macau's first national security trial, found guilty of "subversion against the political power of the Sta
In Macau, a special administrative region of China, former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San has been sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison. This marks the first national security case heard in the territory. The 69-year-old was convicted of several offenses, including "subversion against the political power of the State."
The court alleged that Au Kam San provided false information to anti-China organizations outside Macau to incite hatred against the city's government and Beijing. This prosecution is the first publicly known case under Macau's national security law, which was implemented in 2009.
Highlights
- Former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San received a 12-and-a-half-year prison sentence for "subversion against the political power of the State."
- This marks Macau's inaugural national security trial.
- Au was accused of supplying information to anti-China organizations outside Macau.
- The trial was held behind closed doors, raising concerns about fairness.
- The European Union condemned Au's arrest, citing worries about the "erosion of political pluralism" in Macau.
Details
Au Kam San, a former teacher, was detained in July 2025. According to a court statement, Au "personally provided, over a long period of time, assistance and collaboration to external hostile organisations in the collection, preparation, and public dissemination of various images and information that were manifestly filled with political claims of a subversive nature against the political authority of the State."
The court further stated that Au also sought to "incite hatred among Macau residents against the Central People's Government, with the intent to overthrow and undermine the fundamental system of the State enshrined in the Constitution of the People's Republic of China." The trial, which concluded in three days in September and was held behind closed doors, sparked concerns about due process. A judge had previously ruled out an open trial to safeguard national security interests.
Why it matters
Au Kam San's case highlights China's emphasis on security and its intolerance of dissent. Critics argue that even though Macau's pro-democracy movement has never been as influential as its neighbor Hong Kong, this case exacerbates concerns about the erosion of political pluralism in the region. The European Union also condemned Au's arrest, echoing these concerns. Au served in Macau's legislature for two decades, stepping down in 2021, and co-organized vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown.