Second TNI case: Former soldier pleads guilty
JSMP, Dili 31/5 2001
The preliminary hearing against a former East Timorese TNI soldier started today at the Special Panel for Serious Crimes at the Dili District Court. This is the second case in two days involving former TNI personnel. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, and stated that he had deserted from TNI in Kupang. He voluntarily returned to East Timor, and turned himself in to the chief of the village where the murder was committed in September 1999.
This is only the second case in which the court has accepted an admission of guilt and decided not to proceed with a full trial. The first was a case against Joao Fernandes.
The final statements from the Prosecutor and the Public Defender will be given on Monday 4 June 2001 at 3 PM.
JSMP COMMENT- The Special Panel later chose not to accept his plea, and the trial is set for 21/08/01