Hong Kong law enforcers on Friday added a charge of collusion with foreign forces to the prosecution of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai, marking the first time he will face trial under the city’s national security law.

The latest charge will be presented at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts for mention on Saturday morning.

National security police confirmed prosecuting Lai, 73, for alleged collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.

According to the charge sheet, Lai asked foreign countries or institutions, organisations or individuals to impose sanctions or block or engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong and China between July 1 and Dec. 1 this year, in violation of Section 4 of Article 29 of the national security law.

It was earlier reported that the new charge was based on Lai’s acceptance of interviews and calls for sanctions from foreign governments.

Lai has been remanded in Lai Chi Kok detention center in Kowloon since Dec. 3, where he will remain until next April to stand trial over one count of fraud concerning land use.

Defense lawyers on Friday afternoon paid a visit to their client at the detention center. Lai’s daughter later cited their feedback, saying: “Dad was in good spirits, they said.”

In August, police mobilized more than 200 officers to raid Apple Daily’s offices for investigation. They also arrested Lai, two of his sons and four senior management executives of Next Digital for alleged fraud and infringement of the national security law.

In Lai’s Dec. 3 appearance in court, the police pressed fraud charges against him and two senior executives but did not mention any offenses related to national security.

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