The 77-year-old founder of tabloid Apple Daily is one of the most prominent figures to be prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security law, which was imposed by Beijing to quell dissent after pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Lai has been responding to lawyers’ questions as a defence witness since November in a trial that has dragged on long past its 80-day timetable.
He has been kept behind bars since December 2020 as some western nations and rights groups have raised concerns about his condition and demanded his release.
The collusion offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Lai also faces a charge related to “seditious publications”.
In court, lawyers asked wide-ranging questions on Lai’s political ideology, his management style at Apple Daily and his vast network of overseas contacts.
Lai has denied calling for sanctions against China and Hong Kong and said he never advocated separatism.
Day after day, Lai smiled and waved to family members in the public gallery as guards led him to his seat. He usually carried nothing except a glass of water.
The talkative media boss often butted heads with prosecutors and the three-judge panel, including when he called himself a political prisoner last month.
“You are not a political prisoner,” high court judge Esther Toh retorted.
“You are sitting in this courtroom… because you are facing criminal charges.”
In another exchange, Lai accused prosecutors of putting words in his mouth and said they were “free of shame and integrity” before judges cut him short.
Apple Daily was forced to close in 2021 after police raids and the arrests of its senior editors.
Lai predicted before his arrest that the security law would curb liberties in Hong Kong and that has “come to pass”, he told the court.
“Is there anybody in Hong Kong now (who) can speak the truth?” he said, triggering another warning from the bench.
The mogul would also jump in before lawyers had finished asking questions, volunteering copious details when he was only required to reply yes or no.
The trial is conducted in English and Lai’s way of speaking at times became a stumbling block.
Last week judges became confused by his pronunciation of “hegemony”.
Lai spent hours silently scrutinising evidence – including hundreds of WhatsApp messages – shown to him on a large desktop screen, telling an assistant to “raise up” whenever he wanted them to scroll down.
“This case involves millions and millions of pages of documents,” Lai’s defence lawyer Steven Kwan told the court.
Lai thanked judges and lawyers when he was excused today.
Lawyers will continue their arguments tomorrow, the 145th day since trial began.