Dili, September 3, 2026 (Media Democracia) – Minister of Interior, Francisco da Costa Guterres, has already received a report from the PNTL General Command regarding the involvement of one PNTL member from the Border Patrol Unit (UPF), who is suspected in a homicide case that occurred in the Wetaba area, Tilomar Administrative Post, Covalima Municipality, in July 2026.
“The report we received, there’s no need to ask about it anymore. In the report now we have handed everything over to the Criminal Investigation. The investigation is finished because this is a criminal process, so we hand it all over. They will send it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to process and for the first interrogation. In the end it will be taken there to be processed.” said Minister Francisco Guterres to journalists after attending the Council of Ministers meeting at the Government Palace on Wednesday (02/09).
Francisco said the PNTL Command will also take measures regarding this matter, especially related to administrative issues.
“When it is already submitted to the investigation process, there are procedures that the PNTL will take against this member. I don’t really know about the secret team from where? I don’t know, but the report I received says a UPF member was also involved. But I did not receive any secret team. So I don’t really understand this.” He stated.
He informed that the report does not mention that the suspects are secret service personnel, but the report does mention that there is one UPF member and some SNI members.
“I don’t really know about that. What I know is that there is a UPF member, that’s what was informed. We let it be followed up so that later when the process reaches the terms of its modality, I think SNI also has a mechanism to deal with its member so they can also investigate their member.” He said.
The government official said that regarding the UPF member suspected in the homicide case, it depends on the investigation and the PNTL Command will make a decision.
“I think the sanction depends on the gravity of the crime they committed because we have to look at the Court. Because the Court decides first, then the PNTL side will also take action according to the gravity of the crime they committed.” He emphasized.
According to PNTL procedures, when a police officer is suspected of involvement in any case, that member is automatically disarmed during the investigation.
“Whether you like it or not, it’s not about whether they are disarmed or not, automatically the procedure shows that if he is suspected of violating some rule, when they go to detain him the weapon is taken immediately.” Guterres explained.
Minister Francisco said the UPF member suspected in the Wetaba case was arrested by police because he is also a suspect in the referred case, that’s why the police detained him.
“That’s why PNTL made the decision to arrest him. If PNTL didn’t arrest him that would be even worse. We have to praise the Timor-Leste National Police because they managed to arrest their own member who they detected was suspected of involvement in a crime. This must be praised. These processes are how we try to put police under discipline so they serve properly. If it’s not right you must submit to the investigation process.” He said.
He said regarding this case he doesn’t want to speak in detail because he is waiting for the investigation.
“Now I cannot speak on behalf of the police to deny. Let the investigation process proceed and then they will report. I will have no comment on that. In the procedure to follow up on them, this one is still good, in terms of later the internal mechanism is already there, SNI will also look at it.” He added.
He said the case has been handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Court for them to process the case.
“The people who are suspected in this case, because this case we call a crime of killing a person, for this, one thing that is true is that this should not happen. In fact, members of institutions that work for state security institutions must protect people, protect citizens, protect vulnerable people, that is what’s important.” He said.
Previously, on Monday (31/8), the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate executed a warrant from the Suai Court of First Instance to detain four suspects in the homicide case that occurred in Wetaba, Tilomar Administrative Post, Covalima Municipality against a female citizen in July.
Reporting: Estefánia Cardoso
Photo: Estefánia Cardoso