Dili – The General Prosecutor of East Timor issued an indictment today charging militia commander Bernadino da Costa – also known as "Mata Satu" – with nine counts of Crimes Against Humanity including murder, persecution and the forcible transfer of hundreds of East Timorese to West Timor.

The indictment states that Costa bears criminal responsibility for crimes committed by his Tim Sasurut Ablai militia in Same sub-district, Manufahi district, between April and September 1999. Operating under the direction of the Ablai Militia, the Tim Sasurut Ablai carried out acts of violence against civilians perceived as supporters of East Timor's independence from Indonesia. Such acts included: seven murders; the detention of 400 people for several days prior to their deportation or forcible transfer to West Timor; and other acts of violence and intimidation.

Today's indictment contains nine Crimes Against Humanity charges – five counts of murder; two counts of imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law; one count of deportation or forcible transfer of a population; and one count of persecution as part of a widespread or systematic attack on a civilian population.

The accused is still at large and believed to be residing in West Timor, Indonesia. Two of Costa's deputy commanders – Benjamin Sarmento and Romeiro Tilman - were previously indicted and arrested and are slated to face trial in April 2002.

This is the 35th indictment issued by the UNTAET Serious Crimes Unit, and the 13th including charges of Crimes Against Humanity. At the moment the Special Panels for Serious Crimes of the Dili District Court are hearing 16 serious crimes cases.