Macao's First National Security Verdict Lands at 12.5 Years
Former lawmaker Au Kam San faces a quarter-century term behind bars after a secret trial that critics label a political message to the region's citizens.
By Ethan Cooper ·
Au Kam San, a 69-year-old former lawmaker, received a sentence of 12 and a half years in prison on Friday. This marks the first conviction under Macao’s national security law, a statute enacted in 2009 but rarely applied to local figures. The verdict follows a closed-door trial that concluded in September, raising immediate questions about transparency in the special administrative region.
The path to this ruling began with Au’s arrest in 2025. That detention represented the first publicly known prosecution under the security framework in the casino hub. A Macao court determined that Au committed subversion of state power, breached confidentiality, and established contact with external groups to commit acts endangering national security.
The timeline of the alleged offenses spans several years. The court stated that Au helped overseas organizations spread false and distorted information between 2023 and 2024. Prosecutors claimed these efforts aimed to induce foreign hostility and undermine the smooth running of the 2024 city leader election. Additionally, the court found that while serving as a lawmaker in 2021, Au leaked confidential information from closed-door committee meetings regarding gaming license renewals.
Legal experts and family members have raised concerns about the process. Jorge Menezes, a Portuguese lawyer practicing in Macao, noted that the trial was held in secret without revealing specific details about the organizations involved. He argued that the court statement implied Au had confessed, even though he did not formally plead guilty. Michael Polak, Au’s international counsel, urged Portugal and the European Union to demand that the Portuguese citizen be allowed to leave the region.
Family members expressed distress over the severity of the sentence. Au’s wife, Virginia Cheang, described the proceedings as a groundless persecution in a public letter. Her daughter, Au Hon I, said the ruling sets boundaries for citizen rights and makes the region feel less like a safe space. The court stated that Au’s family was approved for regular visits and that he exercised his right to a defense through an appointed lawyer.
The Macao government supported the ruling, urging all sectors to respect it. It stated that authorities would continue to strictly enforce the security law. Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said the verdict demonstrated a firm resolve to safeguard national security. China’s Foreign Ministry added that it opposes external forces using individual cases as a pretext to interfere in local affairs.
Au served in the legislature for 20 years before stepping down in 2021. He was known as a teacher-turned-lawmaker and an organizer of commemorative events for the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Before his arrest, he regularly criticized government measures on social media and in interviews. Many observers considered his critiques to be mild compared to other pro-democracy voices in the region.
The court emphasized that despite being a first-time offender, Au demonstrated a high degree of intent. It noted that the degree of unlawfulness and the potential consequences of his crimes were very serious. Au is one of the few residents who regularly challenged government measures prior to his detention. The verdict stands as a definitive application of the security law in the territory.
