Sara Cheng and James Pomfret

HONG KONG, (Reuters) – On Tuesday Hong Kong prosecutors filed a “seditious publication” charge against Jimmy Lai, a jailed media tycoon who is already facing charges under a strict national security law critics claim has stifled freedoms at the Asian financial center.

Lai, 74-year-old founder of Apple Daily (NASDAQ:) Daily pro-democracy newspaper, appeared with six other Apple Daily former staff members in court. After authorities raided the paper, they arrested employees on grounds of national security and frozen assets. The tabloid was closed down in June.

Lai is already facing two charges in connection to a Beijing-imposed national security law.

Lai was also accused of conspiring to sell, buy, and print “seditious publications” in April 2019, 2021.

According to Reuters, the charges sheet shows that prosecutions claim the publications were intended to “bring hatred or contempt to or excite disaffection against the Hong Kong or Chinese governments”.

Lai is one of the most notable people who were charged by the National Security Law, which was passed in June 2020. It was intended to criminalize terrorist, collusion, foreign forces and subversion with the possibility of life imprisonment.

Lai’s multiple arrests and convictions have been criticized by Western governments as well as international rights organizations. They claim that the law was used to imprison scores of democracy campaigners and crush freedoms, including the press, and has also led to criticism of Western governments.

According to Chinese authorities and Hong Kong, the law restored stability following protracted demonstrations against democracy that erupted in 2019.

Lai was convicted of several cases that were not authorized for assembly. Two sources close to the case say that he was held for nearly a full year in Stanley Prison.

Six former Apple Daily employees were charged with conspiracy to publish seditious materials. They include Chan Puiman, chief editor, and deputy chief editor, Ryan Law, as well Cheung Kimhung, CEO of Next Digital. Columnist Yeung Chingkee, Fung Waikong, senior editor Lam Manchung.

They were also accused of conspiring to collude with foreign countries or external elements.

The case has been adjourned to Magistrate Peter Law on February 24, Every defendant will remain in custody up to then.