Macao Court Sentences Ex-Lawmaker to 12.5 Years in First National Security Case
The verdict against Au Kam San follows a closed-door trial and marks the first public prosecution under the territory's 2009 security statute.
By Natalie Cooper ·
A court in Macao sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 and a half years in prison on Friday, concluding the territory's first public national security case since 2009. The verdict follows a trial held behind closed doors in September, a procedural choice that drew sharp criticism from legal advocates and family members who questioned the fairness of the proceedings.
The court found Au, 69, guilty of subverting state power, breaching confidentiality, and contacting overseas groups to commit acts endangering national security. The judges determined that Au assisted hostile organizations for a prolonged period in collecting and spreading political views they characterized as subversive. The court statement noted that the defendants conspired to incite hatred against the central government with the intent to overthrow the country's fundamental system.
Au was first arrested last year, marking the initial known prosecution under the national security law enacted in 2009. Although Macao has operated as a special administrative region since 1999 with its own legal systems, this case represented a new application of security statutes to a local political figure. The territory remains the only Chinese city where casino gambling is legal, hosting resorts operated by major American gaming firms.
The court cited specific actions between 2023 and 2024 where Au helped overseas groups spread information it described as false and distorted. The judges found these efforts aimed to induce foreign nations to take hostile actions against China and Macao and to undermine the 2024 city leader election. As a lawmaker in 2021, Au also leaked confidential information from closed-door committee meetings regarding gaming license renewals to those same overseas groups.
Virginia Cheang, Au's wife, issued a public letter describing the process as a political trial and groundless persecution. She stated that her family only sought permission to exchange letters and visit Au regularly without conditions. Her daughter, Au Hon I, who lives in London, previously reported that a family-hired lawyer was barred from prison visits, leaving the family unable to speak with him for nearly a year. The court responded that it approved an appointed lawyer and granted the family regular visitation rights.
Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, argued that the Portuguese citizen was detained for non-violent beliefs. He urged Portugal and the European Union to demand Au be allowed to leave Macao. Polak stated that the manufactured allegations brought the territory in line with the world's most repressive states. Maya Wang, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, called the sentence harsh and said it sent a chilling message to peaceful critics in the region.
Au served in the Macao legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. He was a teacher by trade and an organizer for the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown commemoration. Before his arrest, he maintained a rare public presence by criticizing government measures on social media and in interviews, though many observers considered his critiques mild. He said he entered politics to address social problems and felt the need for an open democratic society.
The Macao government supported the ruling, urging all sectors to respect the judiciary's adjudicative powers. The administration stated it will continue to strictly enforce the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said the verdict demonstrated Macao's resolve to safeguard national security and reminded residents to remain vigilant about risks even during stable times.
