The trial of Beny Ludji and Jose Gusmao began at the Special Panel on 12 February 2004 with the two defendants having been detained since their arrest in Timor Leste on 4 April 2003. Beny Ludji and Jose Gusmao were indicted along with Aitarak militia member, Jose Lopes da Cruz Mendonca (aka Jose "Fahiten") on 2 June 2003 for the murder of CNRT independence campaigner Guido Alves Correia, at his home in Mascarinhas, Dili on 1 September 1999. The third accused, Jose Lopes da Cruz Mendonca, remains at large and is believed to be in the Republic of Indonesia.

The SCU indictment alleged that before the popular consultation on 30 August 1999 armed Aitarak militia members from Company A had conducted armed patrols through the Mascarinhas and Caicoli areas of Dili under the command and control of Beny Ludji, the Aitarak Company A Commander. During such patrols, Ludji had made threats to kill Independence supporters including specific threats to kill Guido Alves Correia who was a CNRT Independence campaigner. It was alleged that on the night of 1 September 1999, Ludji and Aitarak militia members under his command attacked the house of Guido Alves Correia where he was hacked to death by Aitarak militia members. Ludji had subsequently ordered the Aitarak militia members to bring the victim's body to Ludji's house from where the body was taken to Tasitolu outside Dili by Ludji and other Aitarak militia members to be buried in a shallow grave.

To date, SCU indictment charges remain against a total of 311 accused persons with 279 of those accused presently outside the jurisdiction of Timor Leste and believed to be at large in the Republic of Indonesia. With the conviction of Beny Ludji, 41 Indonesian nationals remain indicted by SCU for Crimes against Humanity in 1999 in Timor Leste including 37
Indonesian TNI Military Commanders and Officers, 4 Indonesian Chiefs of Police.

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 in Timor Leste are each comprised of two International Judges and one East Timorese Judge.

Since trials began at the Special Panels in 2001, a total of 52 defendants have now been convicted with 2 defendants having now been acquitted of all charges. Until today, those convicted in trials in Timor Leste have only included East Timorese TNI soldiers, East Timorese militia members and an East Timorese Falintil resistance fighter. At present, 15 cases with a total of 32 defendants are currently proceeding or are scheduled to commence at the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in the coming months.

-end-