DILI, 07 july 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta thanked the Australian Government for dropping the prosecution of Bernard Collaery.
Bernard Collaery is an Australian lawyer and former politician who was charged in 2018 after assisting his client, an Australian ex-spy identified only as Witness K, to disclose information about the Australian spying operation in Timor-Leste.
On thursday, (07/07), the Australian Attorney-General, the Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP ordered the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution of lawyer Bernard Collaery under section 71 of the Judiciary Act 1903.
“An injustice has been corrected as Australia dropped the case against Bernard Collaery, a loyal, tireless campaigner for justice. Finally, wisdom and fairness have prevailed,” President Horta said in a statement released on thursday.
“Foreign Minister Penny Wong called me over the phone to inform me in advance of the news of the Australian government’s decision to “discontinue” the case.”
Horta said the Former President Gusmão who is the Senior Special Envoy of the inter-governmental group g7plus of fragile States and Timor-Leste International boundaries Chief Negotiator also expressed happiness and relief at the outcome of a saga that did cause him much anguish and was a thorn in his heart.
“I wholeheartedly commend the Government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for this wise and fair act which closes another sad chapter in the Australia – Timor-Leste relationship,” Horta said. “Let’s move on, looking forward to expanding the Timor-Leste – Australia relationship. Thank you, Bernard, and Thank you, Prime Minister Albanese.”
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
