Dili, July 25, 2026 (Media Democracia) – A Citizen Submits a Precautionary Measures Request to the Dili District Court (TJPID) Against the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces (XEMGFA), Lieutenant General Domingos Raul “Falur Rate Laek”, Regarding the Purchase and Sale of Land in Hera, Kristu Rei Administrative Post, Dili Municipality.
Accordingly, the Dili District Court (TJPID) issued a summons to the representative of the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces (XEMGFA), Lieutenant General Domingos Raul “Falur Rate Laek”, to within 10 days from the date of receipt of the summons submit a defense to the precautionary measures request, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions and civil procedures.
Then, on Friday (24/07), the representative of the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces (XEMGFA), Lieutenant General Domingos Raul “Falur Rate Laek”, submitted the defense to the Dili District Court (TJPID), in response to the precautionary measures request that a citizen filed within the scope of the said civil process.
Representative Celestino Guterres said that today, together with a team from F-FDTL General Headquarters, through the Justice and Public Relations Section, he received a delegation from Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek regarding a civil case, in which two citizens filed a complaint (claim) stating they submitted a precautionary measures process against the Lieutenant General concerning a piece of land in Hera.
“According to the truth, the Lieutenant General is innocent and knows nothing about it, because he isn’t a party to that land, he didn’t make any purchase or sale of that land, other people were the ones who did the purchase and sale. With that, the representative submitted a defense to the Court.” representative Celestino Guterres told journalists at TJPID, Friday (24/07).
He explained that two citizens, through their lawyer, submitted a precautionary measures request against Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek. Therefore, he received a delegation to serve as the legal representative for the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces (XEMGFA) and, within the determined deadline, submitted the 10-day defense to the Dili District Court (TJPID).
“Therefore, today is the last day of the deadline given to submit the defense.” he said.
He stated that as the representative he submitted a defense regarding the facts. He brought it to the Court and registered it in the defense. The representative contests that the Lieutenant General is innocent, he knows nothing about the case, he is also not part of that land, he isn’t the landowner.
“He (the General) has no relationship with the land that is currently in dispute. That land already had a court decision that had become final and binding. At that time, no one filed an appeal, no one filed a complaint.” Celestino affirmed.
Celestino said the landowners have already had the Land and Property Office conduct a survey and measurement, and are waiting for the certificates to be distributed.
However, there was another person who, without their knowledge, made a purchase and sale of that land behind their backs. That person then filed a Precautionary Measures process against the Lieutenant, claiming that the General was also involved.
“According to the real facts, the owner of that land had already fled to Indonesia. He gave power of attorney to his two children, and his two children then transferred the power of attorney to one of their uncles. They claimed that land against a lady who recently passed away, and also against some other people, but when it went to Court the defendants were acquitted, and that decision was issued on 26 February 2021.” he explained.
He said that when that decision was issued, no one filed an appeal, made a complaint, or intervention, and the process ran from 2021 until 2025 with no further complaints.
They already have the title as landowners, conducted the survey at the Land and Property Office for registration to get the certificate, and it is still within the competence of the Land and Property Office.
“In the end, some people filed another precautionary measures process against Lieutenant Falur Rate Laek, but he didn’t make any purchase or sale there. It was his daughter who bought land from a lady. The land they are claiming has two boundaries, and the land that already has a court decision is the part that those parties are claiming.” He concluded.
Report By: Estefánia Cardoso
Photo: Estefánia Cardoso