Opposition or reprehensible appointment of the leader of the Court of Appeal

“ A fretilin’s bench believes that the President of the Republic should use his constitutional powers to reassess the appointments of the President of the Court of Appeal and the Attorney General of the Republic,” said Florentino Ximenes da Costa ‘Sinarai’, in an intervention in the Timorese parliament.

In the intervention, Fretilin’s deputy pointed out that the actions of those responsible for these two positions “ lacks legal legitimacy, professionalism and independence”.

“Fretilin’s bench also asks the Superior Council of the Judicial Magistrate to promote disciplinary actions and investigations of judicial magistrates who have used their powers to interfere in judicial proceedings, compromising the integrity and sovereignty of courts,” Florentino Sinarai said.

The deputy also expressed concern about the “serious situation of justice”, warning that the public is growing the apprehension that “criminal networks will have succeeded in influencing the selection processes of the leaders of the justice sector in East Timor”.

“ The economic and political power seems to have removed some leaders from the ideals that motivated the sacrifice of the Timorese people for self-determination and national independence ", says Florentino 'Sinarai'.

According to the deputy, those who “sacrifice their lives in the defence of their rights can no longer find justice, dignity and reparation before the courts”.

“ However, corrupt allied officials of these networks remain free from investigations, accusations and trials,” said Florentino ‘Sinarai’.

“ Human rights violations tend to escalate when judges and prosecutors stop obeying the Constitution to serve financial interests and orientations of criminal groups,” he said.

For Florentine ‘Sinarai’, the court in which everyone trusted to defend the interests of the sovereignty of the State and the population “became a place of operation of a mafia network”.

“ The maneuvers in court proceedings, manipulation of trial proceedings and the use of power to appoint or transfer judges are strong indications of how the mafia began to control the court according to its interests,” he added.