World · East Asia & Pacific · 54 mins ago
Macau jails former pro-democracy lawmaker for 12½ years
Macau sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12½ years in prison on Friday after finding him guilty of national security offences.
The 69-year-old was accused of working with groups outside Macau and sharing information that authorities said threatened the state.
This is the first publicly known prosecution under Macau’s national security law, which took effect in 2009.
The trial was held behind closed doors and lasted three days, prompting concerns about whether it was fair.
Au’s wife called the case a groundless persecution and said she hoped the family could write to him and visit regularly.
Macau is a Chinese special administrative region that was returned to China by Portugal in 1999, and Au spent two decades as one of a small number of pro-democracy lawmakers.
His sentence comes amid tighter limits on political dissent in Macau, including a ban on a Tiananmen remembrance vigil he helped organise.
A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker and pro-democracy campaigner Au Kam San to 12 years and six months in jail.
Au, 69, was convicted of four of seven charges, including subversion against the political power of the state.
The case was Macau’s first national security prosecution, and Au’s trial was held behind closed doors.
Au’s wife condemned the ruling, calling the case a “groundless persecution designed to humiliate Au”.
Au was arrested in July 2025 and had served in Macau’s legislature for two decades.
- Who
- Former Macau lawmaker and pro-democracy campaigner Au Kam San, 69.
- What
- He was sentenced to 12 years and six months in jail after being convicted of four charges, including subversion.
- When
- The sentence was issued on Friday, Nov 6, 2026.
- Where
- Macau, a special administrative region of China.
- Why
- Prosecutors accused Au of helping external hostile organisations collect, prepare and disseminate information they said contained subversive political claims.
Macau court and prosecutors
Au’s wife and critics of the case
Basis for the case
Macau court and prosecutors
Prosecutors said Au assisted external hostile organisations and disseminated information with subversive political claims.
Au’s wife and critics of the case
Au’s wife called the case a “groundless persecution”; critics raised concerns about fairness and the closed-door trial.
Trial and verdict
Macau court and prosecutors
A judge ordered a closed-door trial to protect national security interests, and the court convicted Au of four charges.
Au’s wife and critics of the case
Critics said the closed-door proceedings raised concerns about fairness and reflected intolerance of dissent.
Au was elected as a municipal councillor.
Au was elected to Macau’s Legislative Assembly.
Au said he would not seek re-election, and Macau authorities banned the Tiananmen vigil he helped organise.
Au was arrested.
Au’s three-day trial ended.
A court sentenced Au to 12 years and six months in jail.
- Sentence
- 12 years and six months in jail
- Convictions
- Guilty of four of seven charges
- Age
- 69
- Arrest
- July 2025
- Trial
- Three days; held behind closed doors
- Legislative service
- 2001–2021
6 sources
Former pro-democracy lawmaker sentenced to 12 1/2 years in Macao's 1st national security case
Macau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case
Au Kam San: Macau’s ex-lawmaker who called ‘bluntly’ for democracy
Ex-lawmaker jailed in Macau's first national security trial
What people are saying
As a native Macau resident, I see many problems in society in my daily life, and there is a great need for someone to stand up and hold the authorities to account
groundless persecution designed to humiliate 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