HONG KONG, Dec 15 Reuters A landmark Hong Kong national security trial against the nowdefunct prodemocracy newspaper Apple Daily and its founder, Jimmy Lai, begins this month.

If convicted, Lai, 76, faces possible life imprisonment on charges he colluded with foreign forces, including the United States.

Following is a timeline of Lai39;s legal battles.

June 20, 1995 Lai publishes the first edition of Apple Daily.

June 30, 2020 China directly imposes a national security law NSL on Hong Kong. The law punishes subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces, with up to life imprisonment.

Aug 10 Lai arrested under the NSL over alleged collusion with foreign forces as 200 police raid his listed company Next Digital headquarters, where Apple Daily is produced and published. He is released on bail.

Dec 3 Lai taken into custody after being denied bail and charged with fraud related to the lease of Next Digital39;s headquarters.

Dec 11 Lai is charged under the NSL with suspicion of colluding with foreign forces.

Dec 23 Lai is granted bail and able to spend Christmas at home.

Dec 29 Lai resigns as chairman of Next Digital.

Dec 31 Hong Kong39;s Court of Final Appeal orders Lai back into custody, saying the judge erred in granting him bail.

April 12, 2021 Defending freedom of speech is a dangerous job. It is our responsibility as journalists to seek justice, Lai writes from prison.

April 16 Lai is jailed for 14 months for taking part in an…