Au Kam San (區錦新) is a former directly elected member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly and a long-time participant in the territory’s pro-democracy and civic-affairs community. This page documents his 2025–2026 national-security case and separates confirmed procedural facts from allegations and unresolved questions.
Current case status
Au was arrested by Macau’s Judiciary Police in July 2025 in connection with alleged offences under Macau’s revised national-security law. He remained in custody pending trial. In July 2026, the Court of First Instance confirmed an indictment alleging three offences: subversion of state power; establishing contact with organisations, groups or individuals outside the Macao Special Administrative Region to commit acts endangering national security; and breach of secrecy.
The trial opened on September 16, 2026 and was conducted behind closed doors. The court stated that the closed hearing was intended to prevent prejudice to national-security interests. The hearing concluded on September 18, 2026. As of September 19, 2026, the court had not yet announced the date for the reading of the judgment.
Why this case matters
This is the first national-security trial in Macau since the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region in 1999, and it is also the first such case reported as being tried entirely behind closed doors. The case therefore raises broader questions about the application of Macau’s national-security framework, public access to proceedings, defence rights, evidentiary transparency, and the balance between national-security claims and civil and political rights.
Those questions should not be confused with a finding of guilt. The three offences are charges. Free China does not present them as established facts unless and until a final judgment determines them.
Potential penalties
For the specific offence of subversion of state power, public reporting on Macau’s national-security law states that the penalty can range from 10 to 25 years’ imprisonment. Separately, local English-language reporting has noted that Macau’s Penal Code allows an aggregate maximum sentence of 30 years. These are different legal concepts and should not be conflated.
Public record and background
Au was born in Macau in April 1957 and worked as a teacher. He served as a directly elected member of the Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2021. Public reporting also identifies him as a former leader of the Union for Democratic Development of Macau and as a long-time participant in June Fourth commemorations in Macau.
Documentation standard
This profile separates arrest, detention, indictment, trial, judgment, sentence, release and post-release restrictions. Allegations by prosecutors or state authorities are attributed as allegations unless established by a final judicial decision. Where court proceedings are closed, Free China does not infer undisclosed evidence, defence arguments, witness testimony or factual findings.
Status: Trial concluded; judgment pending.
Last verified: September 19, 2026.
Evidence status: Court announcements and contemporaneous local reporting confirm the procedural posture; the substantive evidentiary record remains largely non-public because the trial was closed.
Sources
- Macau Post Daily — July 9, 2026 Lower Court statement on completion of pre-trial proceedings
- Macau Post Daily — “Macau’s first national security trial to start Wednesday,” September 12, 2026
- Macau Post Daily — “Macau’s first national security trial ends, date of sentencing still to be announced,” September 18, 2026
- HK01 — report on completion of the three-day trial and pending judgment, September 18, 2026
Corrections or verifiable evidence: contact@freechina.live