Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Monday welcomed the High Court’s jail sentence for former media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for violating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s National Security Law, saying it has served justice as the verdict is based on overwhelming evidence.

The court’s three national security judges -- Esther Toh Lye-ping, D’Almada Remedios and Alex Lee Wan-tang – jailed Lai, who founded the now-defunct Apple Daily, for 20 years following his conviction in December last year on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious materials.

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Three of Lai's associated companies -- Apple Daily Ltd, Apple Daily Printing Ltd and AD Internet Ltd -- were each fined HK$3,004,500 ($384,495).

Lee said in a statement Lai had committed heinous crimes and has been met with the full force of justice. The sentence upholds the rule of law, serves justice and brings a profound sense of righteousness to the public.

He said the evidence in the case was overwhelming as the court had examined more than 2,220 exhibits, over 80,000 pages of documents, and the testimony of 14 prosecution witnesses during 156 days of a fair and open trial.

READ MORE: Full text: High Court judgment sentencing Jimmy Lai

Lee said the solid evidence presented in court clearly shows that Lai was the mastermind behind relevant anti-China and anti-Hong Kong SAR activities. “His acts are despicable and shameless.”

Lai had long used Apple Daily to mislead the public, incite hatred and deliberately create social division, Lee said, adding that Lai had openly sought sanctions from external forces against China and the HKSAR, sacrificing public welfare and harming the interests of the nation and Hong Kong.