Paulina Quintao – After a secret voting at the National Parliament, Sergio de Jesus Hornai, was elected new Commissioner for the Anti-Corruption Commission (KAK) for the period of 2019 until 2023.
Sergio Hornai became KAK's new Anti-Corruption Commissioner after getting 42 votes in favour, 13 against, and 2 abstinences. The vote was held on January 15, 2019, at the National Parliament, in Dili.
Sergio Hornai was the only candidate put forward and garnered votes from the 57 members of the National Parliament, with 42 votes in favour, 13 against, and 2 abstinences. The vote was held on January 15, 2019, at the National Parliament, in Dili.
Member of the National Parliament, MP Adriano do Nascimento, said all entities especially the political leaders must trust the new commissioner to combat corruption and urges them to not interfere with his job.
He said the new commissioner is a very professional person, because he has much experience with the legal services in Timor-Leste.
"If we elect a person who does not enjoy the support of the politicians and we interfere with his duties, we will not be able to eradicate corruption. We must also have an anti-corruption law to strengthen his work," he said at the National Parliament.
He added that the anti-corruption draft law is currently on the table of the Commission A, but the draft has not been inserted into the parliamentary agenda for debate and approval at the plenary.
He said the delay in the election of the new KAK Commissioner happened because the previous government nominated former KAK commissioner Aderito Tilman to the position, while the parliament put forward a new candidate, Sergio de Jesus Hornai. The FRETILIN bench requested for the postponement of an election so it could sit and discuss the appointment of the new KAK Commissioner.
He added that in the meantime, candidate Aderito Tilman withdrew his nomination because of the delay, and in doing so, the parliament voted on a single candidate Sergio de Jesus Hornai who was elected new KAK Commissioner over the next five years.
Meanwhile, MP Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres Lopes, said the main issue that needs to be considered is the fight against corruption and the system to combat corruption in Timor-Leste.
"We need to get our policy to fight corruption right; this is our priority," he said.
On the other hand, the Executive Director of the Non-governmental organization, Mirror for the People (LABEH), Christopher Henry Samson, congratulated the new commissioner and the Parliament for showing commitment and consensus to combat corruption in the country.
He said that LABEH as a partner of the government, is ready to work together across the entire process because those who have been accused of corruption must face the court to answer for the crime committed.
"LABEH hopes the new commissioner can commence all the processes for fighting corruption because there were many failures during the past year. In 2019, there is big hope for the fight against corruption," he said.
He added that the new KAK Commissioner needs from the onset of his term to push for the anti-corruption draft law that is pending debate at the parliament, and to push the parliament to show their commitment to discuss and approve this law to strengthen his duties to fight corruption.
Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/16663-sergio-hornai-elected-new-anti-corruption-commissioner