19 July 2007, Dili – on 17 July 2007, a PNTL team in Liquica recaptured an escaped prisoner who had been charged with murder and arson on 6 January 2007. The escapee, Jose Da Silva, was apprehended in Lusatia sub-village. He had escaped from Becora prison on 17 February 2007.

The Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, congratulated the PNTL and hailed the recapture:

"This is a very important arrest. The rule of law must prevail in Timor-Leste, and criminals must learn that they cannot act with impunity", he said.

One day after UNPol and PNTL held a seminar on the reform, restructuring and reconstitution of the PNTL, Mr Khare said that he was pleased to see that the national police were responsible for making the arrest.

"An effective PNTL are a key part of this new chapter in the story of Timor-Leste", he added.

For more information please call Allison Cooper on +670 723 0453