Dili, July 25, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Dili District Court (TJPID), through the First Interrogation process, issued a ruling applying the coercive measure of Preventive Detention to 11 defendants who are accused of being involved in illegal online scam call center activities in the Mota Ki’ik, Hera area.
During the First Interrogation process, the Court first carried out identification of the defendants, and then continued with statements from the Public Prosecution Service and the Defense, because during the process the defendants exercised their right to remain silent during interrogation.
In these statements, the Public Prosecution Service, through Prosecutors Rafael Gusmão and Pedro Baptista, asked the Court to apply the coercive measure of Travel Ban and a Bail measure of US$5,000 for each defendant.
However, the Defense for the 11 defendants, through private lawyer João Serra, didn’t accept the Public Prosecution Service’s request to apply the Travel Ban measure.
The Defense argued that there is insufficient evidence to support the suspicion of this crime. If the Court considers it necessary to apply a Bail measure, the Defense requested that it be set at US$1,000 for each defendant. According to the Defense, the most appropriate and fair coercive measure in this case is an Identity and Residence Term (TIR).
“The Judge said that the 11 defendants are to go to preventive detention, but we as the Defense don’t agree and will file an appeal. We respect the decision but we feel that this decision is a bit political, when it should be a legal decision. So we don’t agree with this decision. The Judge understands that there are indications, we don’t agree, we think there are no facts and evidence.” said João after the court issued the ruling for the 11 defendants at TJPID.
The private lawyer for the 11 defendants stated that they have 15 days to file an appeal and that next week they will file an appeal for this case.
But the Court’s ruling applied the coercive measure of Preventive Detention to the 11 defendants, because the Court considered that there is sufficient evidence.
The Public Prosecution Service has brought charges against the 11 defendants for suspected commission of four crimes: Illegal Gambling, Criminal Association, Computer Fraud, and Money Laundering. The charges are because the defendants are suspected of being involved in illegal online scam call center activities.
This First Interrogation process was presided over by Duty Judge Ana Paula Fonseca. The Public Prosecution Service was represented by the titular Prosecutors.
Report By: Estefánia Cardoso
Photo: Estefánia Cardoso