Macau court advances the first national security trial against former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San on subversion charges
MACAU: A Macau court said Thursday it had completed a preliminary hearing in the city’s first national security case and determined a former pro-democracy lawmaker was a “principal offender” of subversion and other crimes, and would proceed to trial.
In July 2025, former lawmaker Au Kam San became the first person to be arrested under Macau’s national security law, with authorities alleging he had ties to foreign groups endangering China.
There has since been a lack of public information regarding the case.
On Thursday, a Macau court said in a statement that a judge determined on July 2 that Au was the “principal offender” and had committed crimes of “subversion of state power”.
Au, 69, was also suspected of “establishing links with organisations, groups or individuals outside Macau… to commit acts endangering national security” and “breach of confidentiality”, the court said.
It added that a national security committee had approved allowing “the court-appointed lawyer previously accepted by the suspect to continue representing him”.
“The suspect’s due process rights are also guaranteed in accordance with the law,” said the statement, adding that a criminal court will schedule hearings for the case.
Under Macau’s security law, the subversion offences are subject to a jail term of up to 25 years.
Au is a primary school teacher who became one of Macau’s longest-serving pro-democracy legislators before deciding not to seek re-election in 2021.
The European Union last year condemned the Chinese city’s arrest of him, saying it only heightened concerns about the “erosion of political pluralism” in the former Portuguese-ruled territory.
In Macau, if a judge determines that there is sufficient evidence to impose a criminal penalty on a defendant, the judge will issue an order to prosecute.
The Chinese casino hub expanded the scope of national security laws in May 2023, which officials said was meant to step up prevention of foreign interference.
In March, lawmakers passed a new bill to allow Macau’s judges to hear national security cases behind closed doors and require defence lawyers to obtain clearances before appearing in such cases.
Lawyers and rights groups have warned that the regulation could undermine the functioning of government departments and apply to “any judicial case”, including that of Au.
