Seven East Timor police officers to be dismissed from the force

The East Timor National Police command will dismiss 7 officers who have committed offences and have not discharged their duties base on the law and who have violated the general rules of the police force. Radio Timor-Leste reported on 28 January a statement by the Commander of the Police Justice Unit, Carlos Gerenimo, that the administrative process for these seven police officers had been completed and that they were currently waiting for a final decision from the commanders. 

“We have identified seven officers who will be dismissed from the Institution and we are now processing them,” he said. 

PNTL Commander, Longuinhos Monteiro, said he would not tolerate his police officers who engaged in illegal activities and said they must be sanctioned.

Meanwhile, Radio Timor Leste also reported on the same day that the State Secretary for Security (SES), Francisco da Costa Guterres, said the Government would impose sanctions on any National Police (PNTL) officers who are suspected of being engaged in illegal activities in the country. 

Mr. Guterres called on communities to give information to SES if there were police officers engaging in illegal activities. He confirmed that the Government had received information from the communities on the involvement of police officers in illegal activities. 

“There is regulation to sanction them, if communities find the police officers involved in illegal activities, please let us know, so that they can be investigated,” he said.