The Dili District Court (TDD) has heard details of a domestic violence case in which the victim (referred to as MB) was regularly beaten by her husband (referred to as FS) as he suspected her of adultery. 
MB told the court FS beat her when she spoke with other men, including the cousin of the accused.
The trial related to an incident which occurred on March 24 2011 in Bairo Ailok Laran.
MB said the accused beat her when she was late home from work as he suspected she had been out walking with another man. In reality, an obstacle on the road had made her late, she said.
“If he arrived at home first, he would suspect that I was with other men,” she said.
MB told the court she put up with the abuse for some time as the couple the couple had children.
MB said the accused often hit her in her feet and back.
“I was unconscious after the last beating so my younger sister reported him to the police,” MB told the court.
FS admitted to the abuse and said he beat MB as a result of the trauma he sustained when his first wife left him for another man.
“I divorced with my first wife because she married other man. I didn’t want that to happen again which is why I suspected her,” FS said.
While the trial was in progress, the victim and the accused continued living together.
MB said FS regretted his actions and had changed his behavior.
After hearing the victim and the accused’s statements, Judge President Jose Maria de Araujo handed down a one year suspended sentence to the FS.
