Hong Kong’s High Court sentenced former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison on Monday. He was found guilty of collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles under the city’s national security law. This is the harshest penalty so far under this law. Lai, 78, used his now-closed Apple Daily newspaper and global contacts to push for sanctions against the local and central governments. By his earliest release in 2044, he will be 96 years old. Six former senior Apple Daily executives were jailed between six years nine months and 10 years. Two activists involved got sentences up to seven years and three months. The judges also fined three companies over HK$9 million (US$1.15 million), linked to the newspaper’s operations. Beijing called the verdict a “powerful declaration” warning others against challenging the law. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said, "Lai’s punishment for ‘heinous’ and ‘evil’ crimes was ‘supported by overwhelming evidence, and he for sure deserves his punishment after all the harm he has done.’"