Dili, July 18, 2026 (Media Democracia) – Dili District Judicial Court (TJPID), on Thursday night (16/07), through the First Interrogation process, issued a ruling to apply a bail measure of US$10,000 for the manager of the online scam call centre case in the Ulmera area, and a bail measure of US$2,500 for each of the 75 defendants, due to suspected involvement in the said criminal activity.
During the First Interrogation process, the defendants chose to remain silent. The Court decided to apply the bail measures of Identity and Residence Term (TIR), Periodic Presentation, and Prohibition of Absence. In addition, the Court also applied a bail measure of US$10,000 for the manager of the online gambling operation suspected of involvement in the Scam Call Centre case, while for the other 75 defendants the Court applied a bail measure of US$2,500 for each defendant.
The Court also declared that the bail measure for the defendants must be fulfilled within a period of 20 days, starting from the date the court ruling was issued. For the Periodic Presentation bail measure, the Court ordered the defendants to present themselves at the nearest Police Post to their place of residence, twice a month, according to the terms and conditions established by the Court.
The defendants’ lawyer, Henrique Mariz, said that through the ruling issued by the Court on Thursday night, the Court applied three bail measures and a bail payment for a total of 76 defendants. Of that total, the Court applied a bail payment of US$10,000 to one defendant, while the other 75 defendants received a bail payment of US$2,500 each.
”In this case there are Periodic Presentation measures, Prohibition of Absence measures, and bail payment measures for the defendants. This ruling is less than before, because in the Public Prosecutor’s allegation they requested the Court to apply a bail payment of $10,000 for the Manager.” Lawyer Henrique told journalists at the Dili District Judicial Court, Thursday night (16/07).
He said the 75 defendants were asked to provide a bail payment of $2,500 within a period of 20 days, including the Identity and Residence Term bail measure, which had previously been applied to the defendants by the security authorities.
Previously, in the Public Prosecutor’s allegation, represented by Prosecutor Domingos Gouveia, he asked the Court to apply Periodic Presentation measures, Prohibition of Absence measures, and a bail payment of US$10,000 for defendant D, who is the manager in the online scam call centre gambling operation.
Meanwhile for the other 74 defendants, the Public Prosecutor also requested the Court to apply a bail payment of US$5,000 for each defendant.
The Defense requested the Court to apply Periodic Presentation measures, Prohibition of Absence measures, and a bail payment of less than $5,000 based on their economic conditions because they had only just arrived.
After hearing both sides, the Court decided to postpone until the next day (Thursday) to hear the ruling.
The defendants were brought to the Dili District Judicial Court under NUC. 0248/26.PNSIK.
The Public Prosecutor charged the 75 defendants with four crimes: Illegal Gambling, Criminal Association, Computer Fraud, and Money Laundering, for allegedly committing the illegal Scam Call Centre case.
Previously, the Timor-Leste National Police through the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate (DSIK), together with the Police Information Service Directorate (DSIP) of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL), detained 75 foreign citizens in flagrante delicto for the alleged practice of illegal online scamming games in the Kampu Baru area, Dili Municipality.
During the operation, the team identified that the large group was using advanced technology to conduct operations in the capital Dili. The team also seized their passports in the Ulmera area, Liquiçá Municipality a total of 75 passports, mobile phones, and some money.
In this First Interrogation process, it was presided over by the duty Judge, José Maria. The Public Prosecutor was represented by Prosecutor Domingos Gouveia, and the 76 defendants received legal assistance from Public Defender Henrique Mariz.
Report By: Estefánia Cardoso
Photo: Estefánia Cardoso