AsiaDevelopingDay 1
Macau national security trial of former lawmaker
A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison for subversion and other offences, a day after Hong Kong campaigner Joshua Wong received.
Updated 11:35 UTC, 6 November 2026 · 3 reports from 3 outlets · 2 confirmed · 13 one-source
Image: Al Jazeera
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Where it stands A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison for subversion and other offences, a day after Hong Kong campaigner Joshua Wong received.
9 earlier changes
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Story opened A former pro-democracy lawmaker in Macau has been sentenced to 12.5 years in jail in the city's first national security case.
How it’s being told
One card per media bloc, with each outlet’s framing written from its own headlines.
European media
BBCPublic broadcaster
- BBC foregrounds the jailed figure as a 'pro-democracy campaigner' and frames the case as the city's 'first national security case', centring the defendant's identity while giving no detail.
Middle East state media
Al JazeeraState mediaTRT WorldState media
- Al Jazeera foregrounds the 'pro-democracy ex-politician' label and the 12.5-year sentence, centring Au's wife's 'groundless' persecution claim and a Human Rights Watch call for EU and Portugal pressure.
- TRT World foregrounds international condemnation and the defendant's family, quoting critics who call the proceedings a 'sham trial' and 'baseless persecution', while noting the court approved family visits.
In their words
What the people at the centre of this story said, word for word, with the article each quote appeared in.
Receipts
Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.
Confirmed 2
Reported by at least two independent outlets, or by the actor itself.
Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong received an additional 10-year prison term under Hong Kong's national security law a day before Au Kam-san's sentence.
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“The sentence came a day after Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong received an additional 10-year prison term under the territory’s national security law, a decision condemned by the United States and others.”
TRT WorldState mediaReportsChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
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“This comes a day after Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, who has been imprisoned since 2020, was jailed for 10 more years under the city’s national security law.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
A Macau court sentenced former lawmaker Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison for subversion and other offences.
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“A court in the Chinese territory of Macau has sentenced former lawmaker and democracy campaigner Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison for subversion and other offences.”
TRT WorldState mediaReportsChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
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“A Macao court has sentenced pro-democracy ex-politician Au Kam-san to 12 years and six months in prison after a closed-door national security trial.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
One source 13
Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.
Maya Wang said the sentence sends a chilling message to peaceful critics and urged the EU and Portugal to push for Au's release.
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“Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director Maya Wang said the sentence sends a chilling message to peaceful critics and called on the European Union and Portugal to push for his release.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
Au Kam-san's arrest last year was the first public prosecution under Macao's 2009 security law.
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“Au’s arrest last year was the first public prosecution under Macao’s 2009 security law.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
Virginia Cheang called her husband's case a political trial and a groundless persecution.
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“His wife, Virginia Cheang, wrote in a public letter that the case was a political trial and a “groundless” persecution.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
The court said Au Kam-san showed a high degree of intent and that his crimes were very serious.
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““Although the defendant is a first-time offender and admitted to a considerable portion of the criminal facts, he demonstrated a high degree of intent. The degree of unlawfulness and the potential consequences of his crimes are both very serious,” the statement said.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
The court said Au Kam-san worked with hostile organisations abroad and leaked confidential information to groups overseas.
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“The court said in a statement that Au also worked with “hostile organisations” abroad to spread a political agenda, and leaked confidential information to groups overseas.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
The court found Au Kam-san guilty of subverting state power by spreading false information in 2023-2024.
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“The ruling on Friday found 69-year-old Au guilty of subverting state power by spreading false information in 2023-2024 to disrupt Macao’s 2024 leadership election.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsMacao sentences pro-democracy ex-politician to 12.5 years in jail
Macau jailed a pro-democracy campaigner in the city's first national security case.
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“Macau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case”
BBCPublic broadcasterReportsMacau jails pro-democracy campaigner in city's first national security case
The European Union condemned Au Kam-san's arrest last year, saying it heightened concerns over the "erosion of political pluralism" in Macau.
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“The European Union condemned Au’s arrest last year, saying it heightened concerns over the “erosion of political pluralism” in the territory.”
TRT WorldState mediaAttributesChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
Michael Polak condemned the proceedings as a "sham trial" that "brings shame upon Macau".
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“Michael Polak, Justice Abroad’s director and a London barrister who said he acts as Au’s international counsel, condemned the proceedings as a “sham trial” that “brings shame upon Macau”.”
TRT WorldState mediaAttributesChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
Au Kam-san's wife, Virginia Cheang Mio San, described the trial as a political trial and "baseless persecution" in an open letter.
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“But his wife, Virginia Cheang Mio San, questioned the process in an open letter, describing it as a political trial and “baseless persecution”.”
TRT WorldState mediaAttributesChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
The court said on Friday it had approved prison visits for Au Kam-san's family.
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“The court said on Friday that it had approved prison visits for Au’s family.”
TRT WorldState mediaAttributesChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
Au Kam-san was detained in July 2025 and found guilty of subversion after a closed-door trial that concluded in September.
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“Detained in July 2025, Au was found guilty of “subversion against the political power of the State” following a closed-door trial that concluded in September.”
TRT WorldState mediaReportsChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
Au Kam-san is the first person convicted under Macau's national security laws expanded in 2023.
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“Au, 69, is the first person convicted under national security laws expanded in 2023 in the former Portuguese colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1999.”
TRT WorldState mediaReportsChina's Macau jails ex-lawmaker in first national security trial
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All sources
3 reports from 3 outlets — with who owns each outlet and who pays for it.
Al Jazeera State media
QatarOwner: Al Jazeera Media NetworkPaid by: funded by the State of Qatar
BBC Public broadcaster
United KingdomOwner: BBC — public corporation under Royal CharterPaid by: TV licence fee
TRT World State media
TürkiyeOwner: Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)Paid by: Turkish state budget + advertising
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2 confirmed · 13 one-source3 outletsUpdated