The President of the Public Defense Institute (PDI) Sergio Hornai said 10 new public defenders are on standby for assignment and to provide legal counsel to the community across the three municipal courts in Baucau, Suai and in the capital Dili.
Hornai said public defenders have undertaken legal studies through a professional internship over the past 12 months at the Judicial Training Centre (JTC) and they are now ready to put theory learnt into practice.
“Boosting their experience in real life-context will make them more familiar and aware of what they’ll need to do in real life situations,” said PDI President Hornai in Kaikoli, Dili.
Recently graduated Public Defender Estaqui Guterres said he was ready to commence his legal internship in the court he will be assigned to.
“We are prepared to play our roles as public defenders to help all citizens, in particular the vulnerable,” he said.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament MP Antonio Serpa believes this is demonstrates a significant progress for the work undertaken by the Ministry of Justice to increase and improved the duties of lawyers serving within the Public Defense Institute.
“If the institute is to perform adequately, it will need good human resources,” said MP Serpa.
