Pros. v. Anton Lelan Sufa et al. fr

Country of proceedings: East-Timor (District Court of Dili)
Context of crimes: East-Timor
Date: 2003 - 2004
Keywords: Crimes against humanity (murder, inhumane acts)

Case No.: 04-2003; 04a-2003; 04b-2003; 04c-2003

Court Documents
15-02-2003 - Indictment
23-07-2004 - Amended Indictment
16-11-2004 - Judgement (04-2003)
16-11-2004 - Judgement (04b-2003)
16-11-2004 - Judgement (04c-2003)
25-11-2004 - Judgement (04a-2003)

Presentation of the case
According to Indictment filed on 15 February 2003 and then an Amended Indictment filed 23 July 2004, Anton Lelan Sufa, Agostinho Cloe, Agostino Cab, Lazarus Fuli, Lino Beno, Anton Lelan Simao, Domingos Metan and Lazarus Tael were each charged with murder and inhumane acts as crimes against humanity. The accused were members of the “Sakunar” militia, which was organised and controlled by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (AFRI), operating within East Timor in 1999 to terrorize the civilian population who supported the country’s independence from Indonesia. The leader of the “Sakunar” militia for Bebo village was Anton Lelan Sufa (Case 4a/2003), with his co-accused occupying various positions of power in the militia in Oecussi.

On 16 November 2004, following guilty pleas to various counts by each of the accused, Cloe, Cab, Fuli and Lelan (04-2003) were sentenced to prisons terms ranging from 4 to 5 years, Beno (04b-2003) was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and Metan (04c-2003) was also sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment. On 25 November 2004, having also pleaded guilty, Anton Lelan Sufa was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment. The Court found that the accused were guilty of crimes against humanity committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack directed against the civilian population in East Timor.

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Other cases before the Dili District Court