DILI (TOP) – The people of the city of Dili have panicked over the death of a young man José Bernardo while being detained by the police.
The victim's family has accused several police officers who were on duty on September 1, 2022, to be responsible for the death of their child, but this case is still under investigation by a special team consisting of the Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police, the Ombudsman for Human Rights and also the Criminal Investigation Police.
Previously, the Task Force police had arrested José Bernado who was suspected of being involved in a riot in the Audian area, and then detained at the Kaikoli-Dili Police for several hours to carry out identification, but his body was found with a rope wrapped around his neck with no breathing or dead in police custody.
In light of this situation, the victim's family also accused several members of the police who served in the custody of the Dili municipal police command of allegedly involved in the murder of José Bernardo. However, the investigation process regarding this case is still ongoing, it has not been completed or the motive has not been announced to the public.
The late José Bernardo was identified as a member of the PSHT martial arts organization.
PSHT is a martial arts organization from East Java, Indonesia, and there are many East Timorese who have joined this martial arts organization since the Indonesian colonial era until now.
When news of this death reached the ears of his family and friends, the Kaikoli-Dili police station was immediately visited by the crowd and there were shouts for the police to be responsible for the death of José Bernardo, and also asked the parties concerned to immediately secure CCTV as one of the evidence to see whether it was the late José or commonly called Adriano who had committed suicide or was killed by another party.
CCTV has been secured by the Scientific and Criminal Investigation Police to begin the investigation process.
Due to the shouting at the Kaikoli-Dili police station on Thursday night, the Secretary General of the PSHT martial arts organization, Pedro Aparicio who was also the lawyer for the late Adriano, has asked all PSHT members in Dili and the national territory not to make a fuss, and calm down while waiting for the results of the final investigation from the relevant parties.
"I ask all members to remain calm and contribute to national peace and stability while waiting for the results of the investigation."
Meanwhile, according to the general commander of the PNTL, Police Commissioner Faustino da Costa, stated that he has formed a special team consisting of five high-ranking police officers who will be directly involved in handling this case.
"Five superiors have been sent to this case, and let's wait for the results of their investigations," commander Faustino told reporters in his office, Friday 2 September 2022.
José Bernardo's body was taken to the Guido Valadares National Hospital on Thursday night for an autopsy and has been brought back to his home in Audian which is adjacent to the Dili national stadium.
As the crowd carried his body from the national hospital to his home on Friday afternoon, there was a slight clash between the mob and the police and the police responded by firing several tear gas shells to secure the situation, and finally the situation was temporarily safe and under control.
