Venidora Oliveira – The Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP) has recommended the Ministry of Justice establish a mobile court to try sensitive cases such as the sexual abuse of minors.
JSMP executive director Luis Oliveira Sampaio said underage victims of sexual abuse needed a safe place to testify.
"Last year we had a case involving the sexual abuse of a minor in Maliana," he said. "The trial was open to the public and members of the public were clapping their hands while the victim was trying to give a deposition. This is not acceptable."
He said it was common for such trials to be held in open court in places such as police stations and administrative halls. "The government needs to establish a specific place for such sensitive cases," he said.
Member of Parliament Albina Marcal agreed with the JSMP director. "I support JSMP's idea to urge the government to create purpose-built places for mobile trials," she said. "The government should take this into consideration."
She said while the system of open trials in the district was problematic, it was better than nothing, as it allowed rural residents to access justice. "They don't need to spend money to get to the district court; cases can be judged in their own villages," she said.
Justice Minister Deonisio Babo said his ministry had worked with local authorities to identify locations to hold trials. "It was them who provided the locations such as suco administration buildings and other places they thought were suitable for trials," he said.
He said it was not necessary to construct purpose-built locations for mobile trials.
Babo denied sensitive cases were held in open court. "All sensitive cases are judged in closed court and the ethics of the court are always obeyed," he said.