Sawt Falasteen - Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai verdict set for Monday

Lai, who turned 78 this week, is charged with foreign collusion under Hong Kong's national security law, which Beijing imposed following huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019.

The founder of the Apple Daily newspaper has been behind bars since late 2020, reportedly in solitary confinement.

On Friday, journalists had already started queuing outside the West Kowloon courthouse for a place in the chamber where Lai's verdict will be read.

The hearing, before a three-judge panel, will begin at 10 am (0200 GMT) on Monday, according to a court diary notice seen Friday.

Previous hearings for Lai's case often drew a crowd of supporters and press, some of whom had to watch a livestream of proceedings elsewhere in the court building as they could not fit into the courtroom.

Aside from the collusion offence -- which could land him in prison for life -- Lai is also charged with "seditious publication", with prosecutors citing 161 items including op-eds with Lai's byline.

Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after police raids and the arrests of its senior editors.

- 'Sham' -

The sprawling trial, which began in December 2023, has drawn criticism from Western nations and rights groups, who have called for Lai's release.

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) group expressed outrage on Friday at the "short notice announcement" of the verdict, condemning the trial as "arbitrary and unlawful".

"The trial can only be described as a sham and has nothing to do with the rule of law," the group said in a statement, calling on Britain and the United States to press Beijing for his release.

"This verdict will determine not only Jimmy Lai's fate, but also the future of press freedom in the territory," it said.

Hong Kong authorities have rejected criticism related to Lai, saying his case was "handled strictly on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law".

Throughout the trial, Lai has fielded questions about his political ideology, management style and overseas contacts.

He described himself at least twice as a "political prisoner", drawing rebukes from judges.

He has also denied calling for sanctions against China and Hong Kong, and said he never advocated separatism or violent resistance.

"The core values of Apple Daily are actually the core values of the people of Hong Kong... (including) rule of law, freedom, pursuit of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly," Lai said in his testimony.

Lai is a British citizen, and his son Sebastien voiced new concerns last week over the mogul's health.

The Hong Kong government said last week that prison authorities "handle the custodial arrangements for Lai Chee-ying in the same way as other persons-in-custody", using the romanisation of Lai's Chinese name.

"Lai Chee-ying's legal representatives have also made clear that Lai Chee-ying has all along been receiving appropriate treatment and care in prison," the government spokesperson added.

I.Matar--SF-PST