Dili, 22 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – On Monday (20/04), the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) through the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate (DSIK) executed a warrant from the Dili Court of First Instance to detain a convicted married couple with a newborn child to serve prison sentences of 5 years and 7 years.
This warrant is based on NUK: 0161/23.DSIK. The convicted couple committed the crime of domestic violence which occurred on 17 March 2023, in Laloran hamlet, Bairo Pite Village, against the injured victim with initials Mds, who was admitted to Guido Valadares National Hospital and could not have her life saved.
This case is provided for in the penal code as the type of crime in Article 146, serious offense against physical integrity against the injured party resulting in loss of life.
The Director of the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate, Chief Police Superintendent João Belo dos Reis, informed that the couple does not live together, initials HX as the husband, aged 45, lives in Bairo Pite and initials MB as the wife, aged 41, lives in Gleno, they were taken to serve their sentences separately in Becora Prison and Gleno Prison.
“Yesterday we executed a court warrant, a prison warrant for a couple who live separately, one living at their home in Dili and one living in Ermera, the two have a newborn child, but this is a warrant we execute under the authority of the court and under the authority of the Ministry of Justice to review the treatment conditions for the couple and their child in prison.” said DSIK Director João Belo dos Reis to journalists at his workplace, PNTL General Headquarters Caicoli, this Tuesday.
The convicted couple are serving prison sentences according to the court’s decision, MB is serving 5 years in Gleno Prison together with her child, and HX is serving 7 years in Becora Prison.
“Because each of them is serving prison sentences of 5 years and 7 years, the woman got five years and the man got seven years, so how they can handle the condition of their child who is still a newborn, I think the Ministry of Justice, especially the prison side, already has some conditions in place to resolve it.” said JB Reis.
When the team from DSIK went to pick up the convicts, they first contacted them to locate their whereabouts. As a result, the couple cooperated well with the security authorities to be taken to serve in prison.
Report By: Estefania Cardosos
Photo: PNTL Lens