The former primary school teacher, who served in Macau’s Legislative Assembly for two decades, was convicted on four out of seven charges following his July 2025 arrest. His family condemned the proceedings as groundless persecution, noting he was forced to use a court-appointed lawyer rather than legal counsel of his own choice. The historic sentencing arrived just one day after a Hong Kong court imposed a 10-year prison term on prominent activist Joshua Wong.
Key points
The conviction represents the very first national security case prosecuted in the city of…: The conviction represents the very first national security case prosecuted in the city of Macau.
Macau's recently revised security framework permits closed-door proceedings and broadens…: Macau's recently revised security framework permits closed-door proceedings and broadens criminal liability to cover non-violent acts.
The targeted campaigner previously co-organized annual Tiananmen Square vigils that autho…: The targeted campaigner previously co-organized annual Tiananmen Square vigils that authorities have since effectively banned from taking place.
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- Published
Macau has sentenced an ex-lawmaker and pro-democracy campaigner to 12 years and six months' jail in the city's first national security case.
Following a closed-door trial, Au Kam San, 69, was convicted on Friday of "subversion against the political power of the state", among other offences.
His wife Virginia Cheang condemned the ruling, calling the case a "groundless persecution designed to humiliate Au".
Macau was handed back to China in 1999, ending over 400 years of Portuguese administration. Its national security law came into effect in 2009, criminalising acts of treason, secession, and subversion against the Chinese Communist Party.
The law was revised in 2023, broadening its scope to include non-violent acts of secession, and again this year, to allow for trials to be held behind closed doors.
Prosecutors had accused Au of assisting and collaborating with "external hostile organisations" by collecting, preparing and disseminating information that was "manifestly filled with political claims of a subversive nature against the state".
These took place "over a long period of time", the prosecutors claim.
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