Former Laksaur Militiaman Sentenced To 7 Years For Murder Following Guiltyplea At Special Panel For Serious Crimes In Timor Leste

At 10:00am on 6 February 2004, Judges at the Special Panels for Serious Crimes convicted Joanico Gusmao of one count of murder as a Crime against Humanity. The former Laksaur militia member from Covalima district had pleaded guilty shortly before his trial for the murder of independence supporter Felix Mali in Sukaer Laran Village in Suai subdistrict on 5 September 1999.

Taking into account his plea of guilt, the Panel of three Judges at the Special Panel for Serious Crimes sentenced Joanico Gusmao to 7 years imprisonment with time deducted for time spent in detention. A written judgment will be issued by the Special Panel for Serious Crimes at a later date.

Since trials began at the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in Timor Leste in 2001, a total of 47 defendants have now been convicted with 1 acquittal. Those convicted in trials in Timor Leste have included East Timorese TNI soldiers, East Timorese militia members and an East Timorese Falintil resistance fighter.

In 2000, the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) set up Special Panels of Judges at Dili District Court to hear cases of Crimes against Humanity and serious crimes from the 1999 period. The Special Panels for Serious Crimes are comprised of two International Judges and one East Timorese Judge. At present, 16 trials with a total of 36 defendants are currently proceeding or are scheduled to commence at the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in the coming months.