Sydney Morning Herald January 24, 2001

Soldier arrested as murder suspect By Mark Dodd and agencies

Dili: An Indonesian soldier trying to re-enter East Timor has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a murder committed during post-independence ballot violence in September 1999, United Nations police say.

Sergeant Fransisco Lako dos Santos was arrested on Saturday as he tried to cross the Batugade checkpoint posing as a businessman, said a spokesman for the UN Civilian Police, Commissioner Antero Lopes.

Commissioner Lopes said a Timorese policeman working for the country's new police force recognised Sergeant dos Santos, an East Timorese national sought by the UN for involvement in a murder committed near Maliana during political violence after the August 30, 1999 ballot.

"We're investigating a case of murder he's accused of. We have witnesses."

Sergeant Dos Santo had Indonesian citizenship, and according to his statement was still serving with Indonesia's armed forces, Commissioner Lopes said.

He would be held in custody in Dili for 30 days while the allegation that he conspired with his brother to murder an East Timorese was being investigated.

The Indonesian military said Sergeant dos Santos had slipped across the border to East Timor without permission.

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