Cop suspended from force pending investigation of fatal shooting of citizen in Timor-Leste

UNMIT PRESS RELEASE Delta Nova Incident Investigation Update 4 January 2010 Dili – On Saturday 2 January the Acting Police Commmissioner Ibrahim Idris and the Acting General Commander of the Poli­cia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL), Afonso de Jesus, signed off on the Preventive Suspension of the PNTL officer under investigation in relation to the incident at Delta Nova, Comoro, Dili, on 28 December 2009.

"We suspended the PNTL officer concerned, effective from 2 January, due to the gravity of the alleged misconduct and in order to allow an objective disciplinary inquiry," said Acting Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris.

"UNPOL and PNTL take this matter with the utmost seriousness, and the internal investigation will be completed thoroughly and without delay," said Idris. "The Acting General Commander and I have signed the Dispatch Order of Suspension in accordance with the provisions of the PNTL Disciplinary Regulations."

In addition to the internal police inquiry, UNPOL and PNTL have initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, and on 31 December 2009 referred the matter to the Office of the Prosecutor General.