Former Macao Lawmaker Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Landmark Security Case

Au Kam San, a 69-year-old former lawmaker in the Chinese special administrative region of Macao, received a prison sentence of 12 and a half years on Friday. The verdict concludes the territory's first public prosecution under its national security law, a statute enacted in 2009 but rarely invoked until now.

The court found Au guilty of subverting state power and breaching confidentiality. Prosecutors argued that he established contact with organizations outside Macao to commit acts that endangered national security. The ruling follows a trial held behind closed doors in September, a decision the judge justified by citing the need to protect national security interests.

According to a court statement, Au assisted hostile foreign groups over an extended period. He collected and disseminated political views intended to subvert state power and spread false information. The court said these actions were designed to incite hatred among Macao residents against the central government and to undermine the country's fundamental system. The statement noted that although Au was a first-time offender who admitted to some facts, his intent was high and the consequences of his crimes were serious.

The legal proceedings focused on specific actions between 2021 and 2024. As a legislator in 2021, Au allegedly leaked confidential information from closed committee meetings regarding gaming license renewals to overseas groups. The court found that these groups used the information to spread distorted narratives and induce foreign nations to take hostile actions against Macao and China. These efforts also aimed to disrupt the 2024 city leader election.

Au's wife, Virginia Cheang, issued a public letter describing the process as groundless persecution. She expressed a desire for regular, unconditional visits and letter exchanges with her husband. Cheang questioned the logic of holding the trial in secret while announcing the verdict publicly, calling the entire operation a political trial intended to humiliate her husband's character.

His daughter, Au Hon I, who lives in London, described her father as a peaceful family man. She stated that the ruling sets new boundaries for citizen rights and creates a frightening precedent. Au Hon I noted that a family-retained lawyer was initially unable to see her father, and she described the current climate in Macao as unsafe and heartbreaking.

Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer practicing in Macao, criticized the transparency of the proceedings. He noted that the court statement did not specify which organizations were involved or what information Au provided. Menezes argued that the phrasing suggesting Au acknowledged some facts could mislead the public into believing he confessed. He stated that Au did not plead guilty and that this omission violates his dignity. Menezes also suggested the case serves as a message to residents that challenging authorities carries severe risks.

Michael Polak, Au's international counsel, urged Portugal and the European Union to demand that the Portuguese citizen be allowed to leave Macao. Polak described the sentence for someone of Au's age as a life sentence. He warned that if Au remained in Macao, he could die in prison.

Macao's government supported the ruling and urged all sectors to respect it. The territory plans to continue strict enforcement of the security law. Beijing's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office stated that the verdict demonstrates Macao's resolve to safeguard national security and reminds residents to remain vigilant. China's Foreign Ministry said it opposes external forces using individual cases to interfere in Macao's affairs.

Au served in the legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. He was a teacher who entered politics to address social problems. He also organized Macao's commemorations of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Many considered his public critiques of government measures to be mild, but he remained a visible voice for pro-democracy views in the region.