Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A TIMOR LESTE court acquitted the country's deputy prime minister of corruption and abuse of power charges yesterday after he was accused of securing an overpaid job for his wife.
Prosecutors had charged Jose Luis Guterres with improperly giving his wife, Ana Maria Valerio, a job as counsel to the Timor Leste ambassador to the United Nations in New York in 2006.
The accusations were based on a 2009 report by the country's ombudsman Sebastiao Ximenes, who recommended bringing Guterres to trial for acts of collusion and nepotism.
"The court found that Jose Luis Guterres did not commit any wrongdoing or an illegal action by appointing someone. He also did not commit an abuse of power," chief judge Joao Ribeiro told Dili district court.
"The accusations are only based on rumours and prejudice, so all charges have to be dismissed," the judge added.
Ximenes said in the report that the appointee should have been a career diplomat who had worked through various lower-level posts, "prerequisites Ana Maria Valerio did not fulfil ".
"I'm delighted with the court's ruling. This is a good example for our people to continue to trust our legal institutions," Guterres told reporters after the ruling.AFP
Prosecutors had charged Jose Luis Guterres with improperly giving his wife, Ana Maria Valerio, a job as counsel to the Timor Leste ambassador to the United Nations in New York in 2006.
The accusations were based on a 2009 report by the country's ombudsman Sebastiao Ximenes, who recommended bringing Guterres to trial for acts of collusion and nepotism.
"The court found that Jose Luis Guterres did not commit any wrongdoing or an illegal action by appointing someone. He also did not commit an abuse of power," chief judge Joao Ribeiro told Dili district court.
"The accusations are only based on rumours and prejudice, so all charges have to be dismissed," the judge added.
Ximenes said in the report that the appointee should have been a career diplomat who had worked through various lower-level posts, "prerequisites Ana Maria Valerio did not fulfil ".
"I'm delighted with the court's ruling. This is a good example for our people to continue to trust our legal institutions," Guterres told reporters after the ruling.AFP
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