Former Macau lawmaker Au Kam San sentenced to 12 years and six months in city's first national security case

In brief

• A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam San to 12 years and six months in prison.
• He was convicted of subversion and related offences under the territory's national security law.
• It is the first case under that law since it took effect in 2009, and the trial was held behind closed doors.

Court ruling

A Macau court has convicted Au Kam San, 69, of subversion and several related offences, and sentenced him to 12 years and six months in prison (Ex-lawmaker gets 12.5 years in Macao's first national security case – NPR) (Macau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case – BBC News) (Ex-lawmaker jailed in Macau's first national security trial – DW). The case is the first heard under the territory's national security law since it took effect in 2009. The court also found him guilty of breaching confidentiality and of making contact with organisations, groups or people outside Macau in order to carry out acts that endanger national security.

Prosecution case

Prosecutors argued that Au had for a long time assisted hostile foreign groups by gathering, preparing and circulating material with subversive political claims against the state. According to the court, he sought to fuel hatred of the government among Macau residents and to undermine the state's authority (V Macau na základe nového zákona odsúdili prvého prodemokratického aktivistu – HNonline.sk). Au, a former teacher, sat in the legislature for two decades and left it in 2021.

Arrest and closed-door hearing

Au was detained in July 2025 and later faced several charges tied to subversion and related conduct. The trial took place behind closed doors, a procedure allowed by a revision to the security law made this year. Human Rights Watch said the proceedings fell short of fair-trial standards and could discourage other critics of the Chinese government. Au's wife, Virginia Cheang, called the verdict a groundless persecution.

International reaction

China's foreign ministry said Beijing backs the way Macau's authorities handled the case. The European Union had criticised the arrest when it occurred last year.