Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was thrown behind bars without bail on Thursday as part of a growing crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous city.

Jimmy Lai, the chairman of Next Digital, which publishes the Apple Daily newspaper, was among 10 people arrested on Aug. 10 on suspicion of violating a national security law and collusion with a foreign country.

But on Wednesday, the 73-year-old was charged along with two Next Digital executives with fraud over accusations that they violated lease terms for the company’s office space.

His case was adjourned until April 16.

Beijing imposed the national security law in response to protests in Hong Kong that began in 2019 over a proposed extradition law and expanded to include demands for true democracy in the former British colony.

The sweeping legislation resulted in more public protests and allegations that Beijing is violating the autonomy promised to Hong Kong.

Apple Daily slammed the law on its front page on July 1, calling it the “final nail in the coffin” of the territory’s autonomy.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and two others were sentenced to jail Wednesday over anti-government protests.

Wong, 24, was sentenced to thirteen and a half months in jail after pleading guilty to organizing and taking part in the June 21, 2019 rally outside Hong Kong’s police headquarters over the extradition bill and police use of force against protesters.

Two others, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam, also copped to charges. Chow was sentenced to 10 months for participating and inciting other protesters and Lam was given seven months on incitement charges.

With Post wires