Macau jails man 12.5 years under national security law for subversion
Macau's first national security case saw Ou Kam Un sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for subversion and other charges. The Macau government said it respects and supports the court's verdict, urging society to respect judicial independence.
Ou Kam Un has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison in Macau's first case under the territory's national security law. The Macau Special Administrative Region Government said on 6 November that it respects and supports the court's decision.
The Macau Court of First Instance found Ou guilty of one count of subversion of state power, two counts of establishing contact with organisations, groups or individuals outside the Macau SAR to commit acts harmful to national security, and one count of breaching secrecy rules.
The Macau government issued a statement calling on all sectors of society to respect the verdict and support the judiciary in exercising its powers and upholding judicial fairness and the rule of law. It said the criminal court independently tried the first national security case and fully protected the legal rights of Ou and other participants in the proceedings.
The government stressed that safeguarding national security is a constitutional responsibility of the Macau SAR. It said its position of firmly upholding national security, respecting judicial independence and defending the rule of law is unwavering. Authorities will continue to strictly enforce Macau's national security law to prevent, stop and punish acts that endanger national security.
It also pledged to deepen national security and rule of law education to strengthen the territory's national security defences, ensure long-term prosperity and stability and protect the fundamental interests of Macau residents, while keeping the 'one country, two systems' principle stable and sustainable.