JU’S Legal Social accused the judiciary sector of East Timor due to a lack of transparency in sending a letter to the President Ramos-Horta and to the prime minister Xanana Gusmão announcing excessive delays and the lack of information about disciplinary processes against a judge and a prosecutor for alleged sexual harassment, which were made public in August 2025.
In the letter, the organization expresses concern over the fact that the deadlines for the proceedings have been exceeded without a final decision or clarification of their status, accusing the judicial councils of refusing information to the legal representatives of the victims.
The entity considers that this refusal “violates the right to information and the principles of transparency, good administration, and legality that should govern disciplinary bodies,” emphasizing that “the disciplinary procedure of those judicial actors by their respective councils is independent of any possible criminal proceedings.”
A JU’S Legal Social admits to resorting to the courts to demand the continuation of the processes and asks the authorities to ensure compliance with legal deadlines, access to information, and impartial functioning of disciplinary bodies.
The unjustified delay in cases of alleged sexual harassment involving judges undermines the credibility of institutions and citizens’ trust in the justice system, as well as sending a negative signal to victims, according to the organization.
