Between January and September this year, 541 domestic violence cases were registered with the Criminal Investigation Service. 
Acting Chief of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) Criminal Investigation Service, Chief Inspector Manuel Alves said the 514 cases involved violence between husbands and wives, fathers and sons and mothers and daughters.
“Now those cases have already been handed over to the Public Prosecutor,” said Chief Inspector Alves recently in his office.
He also added that the number of domestic violence cases this year was about the same as last year.
“The year isn’t finished yet, so this is just from January to September.”
He said a reason given for cases between husbands and wives was that they did not listen to each other, and for cases with parents against children, that the children did not listen to their parents.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament Bendita Magno said it looked like the number of domestic violence complaints increased every month and every year, which showed people used their conscience to reveal what was happening.
“Because this law exists, domestic violence is public crime, and also women are mature,” MP Magno said in National Parliament.
But she also appealed for the community to stop practicing domestic violence or any violence, because now wasn’t the time.
“Now we should concentrate on the development of the nation.”
