The internet says:

Jimmy Lai is a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, entrepreneur, and media tycoon. He founded Next Digital and Apple Daily, which became one of Hong Kong’s most popular pro-democracy newspapers. Born in mainland China in 1947, he came to Hong Kong as a child and built himself up from working in factories to creating a successful clothing retail chain called Giordano.

Lai became increasingly vocal about democracy and civil rights in Hong Kong, especially after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. His newspaper Apple Daily was known for its criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

In 2020, following the implementation of Hong Kong’s national security law, Lai was arrested multiple times. Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after its assets were frozen by authorities. Lai was charged under the national security law with various offenses including “collusion with foreign forces.”

In December 2023, Lai faced trial in Hong Kong on national security charges, which attracted significant international attention. The trial was conducted without a jury, and Lai faced potential life imprisonment if convicted.