After more than 1,000 days in prison, the biggest target in Hong Kong’s crackdown on dissent, Jimmy Lai, will finally go on trial this week in a case closely scrutinized by Western governments.

The 76-year-old former media mogul’s expected appearance in court on Monday will offer a rare public glimpse of the democracy activist. The septuagenarian could spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted of security crimes. He’s also facing one charge of conspiring to publish seditious information.