Hong Kong seeks to seize HK$56.5 million, 17 companies from jailed Jimmy Lai

Secretary for justice has applied to the High Court to seize Lai’s assets linked to national security convictions

The originating summons, seen by the South China Morning Post on Tuesday, said Lai controlled 20 personal and corporate bank accounts in Hong Kong, with remaining balances ranging from HK$212.32 to HK$19,810,748.05.

The justice secretary also sought to take over control of 17 companies owned by Lai by ordering the forfeiture of “all shares under the defendant’s own name or under the names of the respective shareholders”.

Those companies included Next Digital, the parent company of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, in which Lai still holds a 71.26 per cent shareholding.

The combined value of the stakes remains unclear, but the court filing said Lai’s shares in two of those firms, Comitex Holdings and Comitex Knitters, could be worth HK$71.4 million in total.

Source: News - South China Morning Post