Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a prominent supporter of the city's pro-democracy movement and critic of China's leaders, turned 76 behind bars earlier this month. Lai has been in detention since 2020 and is currently facing multiple charges related to Hong Kong's democracy protest movement and his media business.

Lai, the founder of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy and anti-Beijing newspaper that was forced to shut down in 2021, has long been a thorn in Beijing's side. Now, he faces his most consequential legal challenge to date as he goes on trial Monday on three counts of colluding with foreign forces, a crime under Hong Kong's national security law. According to an indictment seen by CNN, Lai also faces a separate sedition charge, carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

The trial, expected to last at least 80 days, marks the most high-profile prosecution of a Hong Kong media figure since the city's handover from British to Chinese control in 1997. It could also set new precedents for Hong Kong's legal landscape, which has undergone significant changes since the 2019 democracy protests.

Prosecutors allege that articles published by Lai's Apple Daily newspaper violated Hong Kong's national security law by calling for overseas sanctions against the city's leaders. Lai, however, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The national security law was imposed by Beijing in response to the 2019 protests, with the aim of "restoring stability" and closing loopholes that allowed "foreign forces" to undermine China. Critics argue that the law has severely impacted Hong Kong's freedoms and transformed its legal system.

As with previous national security cases, Lai's trial will not have a jury but will be presided over by three national security judges approved by Hong Kong's leader. Lai has also been blocked from being represented by a British lawyer, a decision currently undergoing a separate legal challenge that has repeatedly delayed the trial's start date.

While Lai was once a vocal figure in Hong Kong, his multiple prosecutions have kept him relatively silent. Chinese authorities have condemned Western criticism of Lai's prosecution, with the foreign ministry spokesperson accusing him of "colluding with external forces to undermine China's national security."

Meanwhile, Hong Kong authorities have refrained from commenting on ongoing legal proceedings but defended their law enforcement actions based on evidence and in accordance with the law.

International human rights organizations have strongly condemned Lai's trial. Amnesty International's deputy regional director for China, Sarah Brooks, called it an attack on press freedom and freedom of expression, urging the release of Lai and the expunging of his criminal convictions. The Committee to Protect Journalists referred to the trial as a "travesty of justice," asserting that press freedom and the rule of law were at stake.

Lai's journey to becoming a media tycoon is one marked by resilience. As the Great Chinese Famine gripped mainland China in 1960, he smuggled himself into Hong Kong at the age of 12. From humble beginnings, Lai worked his way up in the textile industry and eventually established the successful Giordano clothing chain, which made him his first fortune.

As Jimmy Lai's trial begins, the outcome carries significant implications for Hong Kong's press freedom and legal landscape. The international community will closely watch as this high-stakes trial unfolds over the coming months.