“This fraudulent scheme has caused severe financial losses to a large segment of the population,” the member of parliament stated before the agenda was taken up. The National Police of East Timor (PNTL) announced that it had already received two complaints from victims of the scheme and urged others who had been targeted and lost money to formally file a complaint with the police.
“This case highlights the fragility of our economic borders and the urgency of strengthening oversight mechanisms against corruption and organized crime,” emphasized Nurima Alkatiri. “It is essential that the State treat this threat and all existing allegations as a national security priority,” she added.
The lawmaker also stated that the “desperation of citizens seeking to improve their lives must not be allowed to be exploited by organized crime.”
According to the lawmaker, the situation demonstrates that Timor-Leste is facing a “systematic attempt to exploit loopholes in financial and legal oversight.”
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“It is imperative that we not limit ourselves to reacting to the damage already done, but that we work proactively to strengthen our legal framework and rigorously monitor those who enter our territory under the pretext of investing,” she said.
Nurima Allatiri also argued that the competent authorities must have the necessary resources to address transnational crimes.
The Timorese police have warned the public not to indiscriminately trust online publications that disseminate information related to financial investments without a legal basis or outside the banking system.
