Macau ex-lawmaker Au Kam San sentenced to 12.5 years

Macau’s Court of First Instance sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 years and six months in prison on November 6, 2026, after finding him guilty of subversion and other national-security offences in the territory’s first known national-security trial.

The court found Au guilty of subversion against the political power of the state, establishing links with foreign groups or individuals to commit activities endangering national security, and violating secrecy. The court said he had assisted and collaborated with external organisations in collecting, preparing and publicly disseminating material it considered subversive. The full written judgment was not included in the court accounts summarized in reports.

Au, 69, was arrested in July 2025. His trial was held behind closed doors in September and concluded within three days. The court said the proceedings were closed to protect national-security interests. A local broadcaster reported that Au was acquitted on two additional subversion counts because of insufficient evidence.

Au had served as a lawmaker for nearly two decades and was a prominent democracy campaigner. He also helped organise annual vigils commemorating the 1989...