Macau sentences former lawmaker Au Kam-san to 12.5 years in prison

A court in Macau has sentenced former legislator Au Kam-san to 12 and a half years in prison following the conclusion of the territory's first national security trial.

The Court of First Instance delivered the verdict on Friday, convicting the 69-year-old on five of the seven charges he faced. Au served as a member of the city's legislature for two decades before stepping down in 2021.

Judges found Au guilty of four offences under Macau's national security legislation, which included subversion of state power and creating ties with foreign individuals or organisations to carry out acts that jeopardise national security. He was also convicted of a fifth charge concerning the violation of secrecy laws.

At the same time, the court cleared the former lawmaker of two counts of subversion of state power, which were linked to accusations that he colluded with several foreign bodies, according to an official statement issued by the judiciary.

The proceeding marks the first time that Macau has tried and sentenced a defendant under its local national security framework. The case brings a lengthy prison term for one of the city's veteran political figures following his decades-long career in public office.