Weak control systems put in place by the Ministry of Justice have made it possible for foreigners in Timor-Leste to forge citizenship documents. 
Justice Minister Dionisio Soares Babo said a Korean national had been caught out forging Timor-Leste citizenship documents and passports.
He said the forgery racket had been going on since 2004.
“Our system is still weak, it isn’t complete yet and the verification system also isn’t complete,” The Justice Minister said in Colmera, Dili.
He said in the future, the Ministry of Justice would work with church authorities (responsible for issuing baptism certificates) and the directorate which issues birth certificates to fix the problems allowing the falsification of documents to occur.
“As a reason for doing this, we have no control system for those people who falsify baptism certificates,” Minister Babo said.
He said foreigners who wish to become Timor-Leste citizens should follow the legal process.
Member of Parliament (MP) Inacio Moreira said the system should be fixed and those who were responsible for making the certificates should work within the confines of the regulations.
“They should work honestly,” MP Inacio Moreira said at the National Parliament.
