Ex-lawmaker Au Kam San, a Portuguese citizen and former legislator in Macau, has been sentenced to over 12 years in prison under China’s national security laws. This marks the first such trial in Macau under the expanded legal framework. The verdict has drawn strong criticism from international human rights groups and the European Union. Amnesty International called the conviction “unacceptable,” while the EU expressed deep concern over the lengthy sentence. The case highlights growing tensions over political freedoms in the Chinese territory.
The court in Macau ruled that Au Kam San violated national security laws, though the specific charges were not detailed in the reports. His defense team argued that the charges were politically motivated and that Portugal should intervene to allow him to leave the region. The sentence, 12 years and six months, has raised alarms about the increasing use of national security laws to target political dissent.
Au Kam San was a member of Macau’s legislative assembly and had previously criticized the Chinese government’s influence over the region. His case comes amid broader scrutiny of Macau’s legal system and its alignment with mainland China’s policies. The European Union has previously raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in Macau, and this sentencing adds to that narrative. The situation underscores the complex relationship between local autonomy and national control in the region.
