Thank you Madam Chair,

First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the delegation of Timor-Leste, to congratulate you on your nomination as chair of this important meeting, and we wish that under your leadership, that the first resumed 10th session of the IRG meeting will be implemented successfully and reach its objectives.

I would like also to take this opportunity, to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of UNODC who has been working hard to prepare for this very important event, and especially for facilitating Timor-Leste’s attendance at this meeting.

Madam Chair, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to take this opportunity, to update briefly Timor-Leste’s progress on implementation the second cycle review. Timor-Leste is undertaking the second cycle review of its self-assessment. As we reported in the 9^th session review on 12-14 November 2018, the second cycle review was supposed to take place in middle of 2017, but it was postponed due to the two general elections (Presidential Election and Parliamentary election) that were occurring in Timor-Leste. The self-assessment was then rescheduled for mid-2018, unfortunately, it was delayed due to another parliamentary election in mid-2018.  

The political development in this young country is promising, even though it has a cost, including the delay of the implementation of the second cycle review of the self-assessment. We are aware of the concern that rose in this meeting yesterday with regard to the delay of the second cycle review. Timor-Leste appreciates the concern from the distinguished Delegate from the United States. 

However, I would like to emphasize in this forum that Timor-Leste, as a young country, is fully committed to fighting against corruption and consider this issue as one of the priorities in the early stage of the formation of our nation. There are a number of efforts that we have been putting into place, including the establishment of a number of institutions to prevent and combat corruption, and we are gradually applying the technology to develop a national system on e-budgeting, e-procurement, and e-Planning. Timor-Leste is happy to share more details about these initiatives when the second cycle review is completed at the next IRG meeting. 

Madam Chair, I am pleased to inform you that after the long process of appointing a new Commissioner for our Anti-Corruption Commission, which had been vacant for 8 months, finally, the National Parliament elected a new commissioner. This was completed two and a half months ago, and soon after that, the Commission has accelerated with a numbers of activities, including speeding up the process of the second cycle review of the self-assessment of UNCAC, and intensifying the communication with partners, including UNDP in Timor-Leste and UNODC, to organize these activities.

As a result, 3 national workshops on the draft Anti-Corruption Law, Asset Declaration Law, and the importance of self-assessment of UNCAC were conducted. The workshops were attended by most of the leaders of public institutions in Timor-Leste, as well as members of civil society organizations.

I am pleased to report that the review of the second cycle of the self-assessment is now taking place. We are fully committed to fulfill our obligation as a State Party, and expect the self-assessment to be concluded by the first quarter of next year. We are aware that the limitation of resources might be an issue; hence we will continue to seek assistance to support our technical team.

We would also like to thank our county reviewers, Bulgaria and the Marshall Islands, who have been waiting, but we expect that your country experts will visit Timor-Leste soon to assist us with completing our self-assessment check list.  

Madam Chair, I would also like to inform you that Timor-Leste is honored to be a reviewer, together with Turkey, in reviewing Norway.  For Timor-Leste, it will be a great opportunity to learn more from other countries’ experiences. We are sure that we will learn more from Norway to improve our anti-corruption mechanisms.  Timor-Leste will ensure that it maintains contact with the Secretariat of UNODC in regard to this matter.

Madam Chair, I would also like to inform you that Timor-Leste has nominated its focal points and one of the experts will attend the training on Internal Review Mechanism on September 5-6^th.

Mr. Alberto Martinez Garcia and Ms. Kristina Chocholacek from the Secretariat of UNODC, we would like to extend to you our sincere gratitude for your hard work to support us.

Madam chair and distinguishes Delegates, I thank you very much. 

Alexandre Faustino Freitas

Deputy Commissioner of Timor-Leste’s Anti-corruption Commission

Focal point of the Implementation of Self-Assessment in Timor-Leste.

Dili – 25 Anti-Corruption Specialists (EAK) employed by Anti-Corruption Commission (AAC) Timor-Leste completed a six-day training course offered by Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of Hong Kong (HK) with topic “ICAC Outreaching Training Programme for Commission Against Corruption Timor-Leste” on Thursday (15/8) at Hotel Ramelau Dili.

The aim of the training course is to improve and strengthen the knowledge of Timorese anti corruption specialists who have been serving at the Directorate of Support Services and Cooperation and Directorate of Prevention and Raising Awareness. The training course was under direct supervision of Senior Management of CAC; Commissioner Dr Sergio Hornai, two Deputy Commissioners Luis de Oliveira Sampaio and Alexandre Freitas until the end of the training.

Commissioner CAC Dr. Sergio Hornai on behalf of CAC Timor-Leste expressed his gratitude to the government of Hong Kong under the leadership of Mrs. Carrie Lam that is suffering from the democratization process in Hong Kong but continuing its commitment in sending the best ICAC officers to Timor-Leste to make the training course realized.

 “On behalf of CAC and all structure would like to gratitude to you (ICAC Hong Kong experties), however Hong Kong government right now is suffering from democratization process but with good will and promptness came to Timor-Leste to share with us (on corruption prevention subject). We are gratefull for this and hoping that Hong Kong government and the people of HK China will together with us hand on hand to strengthen our institution,” Said Commissioner Dr. Sergio Hornai.

The topic of the training program “ICAC Outreaching Training Programme for Commission Against Corruption Timor-Leste” is useful to the Timorese anti corruption specialists and Commissioner Sergio demanded to the participants to use the opportunity well to benefit the institution in the area of prevention corruption in the future.

The training course was devided into two parts which first part was presented two trainers by Florence Au and Joe Tam. They delivered materials; an overview of the work of the ICAC HK, strategies for community education and public engagement, youth and moral education, sustaining public sector integrity, promoting business sector integrity, use of mass and news media and show case of ICAC HK.

Second part of the training course were presented two other trainers by Mandy Lee Man-Yu and Man Chan with materials; Institutional Framework Theory for the Prevention of Corruption, Civil Service Integrity – Management of Declared Conflict of Interest, Corruption Prevention in Licencing and Inspection, Corruption Prevention in Public Procurament, Corruption Prevention in Constructions Works no Corruption Prevention in Administration of Funding Scheme.

Deputy Commissioner of Prevention and Raising Awareness Affairs in the closing remarks of the training course expressed his gratitude to ICAC HK expertise that during 6 days of training took turns tirelessly presented its materials, experiences, systems, mechanisms and strategies of ICAC HK on preventing corruption to the Timorese anti corruption specialists. “This is a fruitful training to AAC prevention officers to enhance the human resources capacities especially in the Timor-Leste context. Hope that the cooperation will continue to benefit within CAC Timor-Leste and ICAC HK in the coming future,”. (*)

Dili – ACC Commissioner Dr. Sergio Hornai had appointed three deputy commissioners to assist him in leading the third mandate from period 2019-2023. The appointment that’s announced officially at Jornal da Republica on Friday 31st of May 2019 Seri II, No. 21, indicated the candidates such as Mr. Augosto da Costa Castro, Deputy Commissioner for Criminal Investigation, Mr. Luis de Oliveira Sampaio, Deputy Commissioner for Prevention and Awareness Raising, and Mr. Alexandre Faustino Freitas, Deputy Commissioner for Support Services and Cooperation).

The sworn in ceremony of Deputy Commissioners that taken place today 21 June 2019 together with two Directors and 8 Heads of Units who had been appointed earlier soon after Commissioner took office. These Directors are in the area of Supports Services and Cooperation Directorate and Prevention & Awareness raising Directorate. While, the Heads of Units are in the divisions of investigation, information, monitoring and inspection, risk assessment, public awareness raising, human resources management, Finance and logistic, and procurement.

The appointment of the candidates to hold a position within the CAC Timor-Leste is exclusively as a mandate of Commissioner that’s based on law No.8/2009 15 July 2009. While the formation of the structure of CAC and its tasks is based on Decree Law No. 23/2015 and Decree Law No. 24/2015.

This structure is the first ever a complete since CAC functioning in 2010. The previous mandates were only two deputies, compared to third mandate that has three deputies according to law nu. 8/2009. The new structure is promising, because the two deputies from senior staff of CAC (the current Directors of Investigation and former Executive Secretary of CAC.

They have already some experiences in fighting corruption from early days when CAC was functioning. The other deputy, Mr. Luis Sampaio who is a founder and Director of Judicial System Monitoring Programme (JSMP) in Timor-Leste, is an NGO who have been working for more than decade in the area of justice. While, the Commissioner has been working in the area of justice for almost two decades who held number of positions as well as former Head of Public Defense Timor-Leste.

The combination of the knowledge and experiences from top leaders of CAC is promising and hope that they have enough supports politically and financially in order to exercise their duties better in according to the law and hopefully will come up with an innovative strategic that’s reflect to the needs of the country in combating corruption. (*)

Dili – Komisáriu Comissão Anti-Corrupção CAC) Dr. Sergio Hornai nomeia Komisariu Adjuntus nain tolu atu tulun nia lidera instituisaun CAC iha Terseiru Madatu ba periodu 2019-2023. Nomeiasaun ofisial neebe anunsia iha Jornal da Republica Sexta-feira 31 de Maio de 2019 Série II, No. 21 ne’e, indika Dr. Augosto da Costa Castro nudar, Komisáriu Adjuntu ba Investigasaun Kriminal, Dr. Luis de Oliveira Sampaio ba Prevensaun no Sensibilizasaun no Dr. Alexandre Faustino Freitas, ba Komissáriu Adjuntu Serviços de Apoio e Cooperação.

Serimônia toma pose ba Komisáriu Adjuntos nain tolu nee realiza iha loron 21 Junho 2019 hamutuk ho Diretores nain rua no Chefes unidades nain Ualo (8) neebe Komisariu designa tiha ona. Diretores rua ne’e mak Diresaun Servisu Apoio no Kooperasaun no Diresaun Prevensaun no Sensibilizasaun. Enkuantu, kargu Chefes Unidade sira mak; Unidade investigasaun no informasaun, monitorazasaun no inspeksaun, avaliasaun risku, konsiensializasaun públika, jestaun rekursus humanu, finansas no logístika no Akuizasaun.

Nomeasaun ba kargu iha CAC eksklusivamente mandatu Komisáriu nian bazeia ba Lei No. 8/2009 15 de julho de 2009. Formasaun estrutura CAC nian ho ninian tarefa sira bazeia ba Dekretu Lei No. 23/2015 no Dekretu Lei n.º 24/2015.

Estrutura ida nee kompleta liu ba dahuluk hafoin CAC harii no halao ninian funsionamentu iha tinan 2010. Mandatus anterior sira iha deit Komisariu Adjuntus nain rua kompara ho Terseiru Mandatu neebe iha ninian Komisariu Adjuntus nain tolu bazeia ba Lei Nu. 8/2009. Estrutura foun nee nakonu ho promesas no esperansa hafoin Komisariu Dr. Sergio Hornai hili Komisariu Adjuntus nain rua ne’ebé durante tinan sia (9) servisu ona nudar funsionariu permanente ho grau aas iha CAC (Diretor Investigasaun no Eis-Sekretáriu Ezekutivu).

Komisariu Adjuntus nain rua iha ona esperiensia naton iha luta kontra korrupsaun hahu husi primeiru mandatu Komisariu nian funsionamentu. Komisariu Adjuntu ba Prevensaun no Sensibilizasaun Dr. Luis Sampaio, Director Programa Monitorizasaun Sistema Judicial (JSMP) iha Timor-Leste, servisu nain ONG nasional nian ne’ebé dedika an ba area justisa nian iha tinan 10 nia laran. Komisariu mos servisu iha área justisa kuaze dékadas rua no okupa várius kargus importante inklui kargu Chefe Defensor Públika Timor-Leste.

Kombinasaun konhesimentu, horizonte no esperiênsias husi líderes prinsipais CAC nian née promissora tebes no espera sira sei hetan suporta, apoiu politika, finanseiru sufisiente para halao funsaun ho melhor tuir lei no espera bele rezulta estratéjiku ida inovativu hodi reflekta nesessidades nasaun nian iha prevene no kombate korrupsaun.