Macao court sentences ex-politician Au Kam-san to 12.5 years

Au Kam-san, a former pro-democracy figure in Macao, received a 12.5-year prison sentence following his conviction on charges of disseminating false information and subversion. The court's decision marks the latest legal action against opposition figures in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Prosecutors alleged that Au's activities were part of an effort to disrupt Macao's 2024 elections. The case underscores ongoing efforts by authorities to curtail political opposition in the former Portuguese colony, which returned to Chinese control in 1999.

The sentencing comes amid broader concerns about press freedoms and political expression in Macao, which operates under a separate legal system from mainland China. Rights groups have flagged an increasing number of prosecutions targeting pro-democracy activists and critics of the government in recent years.

Au's conviction reflects intensified scrutiny of political activities ahead of electoral processes in Macao. The territory maintains its own governance structure and legal framework, though national security laws introduced in recent years have expanded authorities' powers to pursue cases involving subversion and sedition.