Ex-lawmaker gets 12.5 years in Macao's first national security case

A former legislator in Macao has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in the region's first case prosecuted under its national security law, which came into effect in 2009. This marks a significant moment as it's the first publicly known prosecution under the law, raising concerns about its application and the implications for political freedoms in the special administrative region. The sentence underscores the serious consequences of violating national security laws in Macao, signaling a potential tightening of control over political dissent and expressions.