Hong Kong Court: Jimmy Lai's "Rabid Hatred" Led to Crimes

A Hong Kong court says "rabid hatred" for China's Communist Party led media tycoon Jimmy Lai down a criminal path. The judges made the statement in their full verdict, released Monday. Lai was found guilty of three national security crimes. The 855-page document details Lai's "rags-to-riches" life. He was born in Guangzhou in 1947 and entered Hong Kong illegally at age 12. However, the judgment strongly criticizes his evidence, calling it not credible. The court concluded that Lai's intense opposition to the party was a central motive for his illegal actions. This led him to what the judges described as a "thorny path" of violating security laws.