08 August 2012

Husband fined $50 for belting wife because of mute reply

East Timor Legal News 08/08/2012 Source: The Dili Weekly Written by Venidora Oliveira - Husband belts wife for not replying when he called. In her statement at the Dili District Court (TDD) the woman testified she was only seating with her friends when her husband called out to her, but she did not reply.

“I heard him call me and I asked him to wait saying I was talking to some friends. He said nothing then, but as soon as my friends went inside, he took off his belt and started lashing out at me, so violently my body swelled up. He then pushed me to the ground then just left me there, and walked out,” said the victim (27/07), at the TDD in Mandarin, Dili.

Case 97/2011 allegedly took place in Lurumata, Dili on the 2nd of November 2010.

The victim’s sister went straight to the police to report this incident citing domestic violence.

The accused said he behaved in that manner because he was emotionally charged-up.

“I didn’t hear her asking me to wait so I got upset because I believed she was not paying attention to her husband, who she has to listen to, so I beat her with the belt,” said the accused.

In his statement the accuses apologised for his behaviour and promised not to do it again.
Judge Duarte Tilman heard the case, with lawyers José Ximenes and Manuel Exposto for the Prosecution and Defence respectively.

After hearing all parties, Judge Tilman handed sentenced the accused to a four-month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay a fine totalling fifty dollars.

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