Self-exiled Hong Kong democrat sentenced to 3 1/2 years

A court in Hong Kong on Thursday sentenced a pro-democracy activist and former lawmaker, Ted Hui, to 3 1/2 years in jail for “criminal contempt” after he failed to show up for trial in several criminal cases.
Hui, 40, fled Hong Kong in December 2020, several months after China imposed a sweeping national security law punishing offences like subversion and foreign collusion with possible life imprisonment.
In a judgment posted online, Judge Andrew Chan outlined how Hui had deceived the court with false documents in late 2020 to have travel restrictions lifted and to “evade criminal proceedings”.
Hui went overseas after he was allowed to travel and did not return, eventually settling in Australia.
Hui had been facing criminal charges in several cases at the time, including perverting the course of justice, access to a computer with dishonest intent, and alleged criminal damage.