The Dili Municipal Court (DMC) heard the case of two brothers who fought over the selling of rice at the wrong price.
According to the accusation by the public ministry read out by the presiding judge of the DMC, accused HL asked the victim SL to sell five sacks of rice in Tasi-Tolu, in Dili. SL was able to sell four of the sacks of rice but gave the fifth to his friend who promised to pay for it at the end of that month.
After returning home HL asked for the money but noticed the equivalent to one sack of rice was missing.
The victim SL explained to the accused HL that he has sold the fifth sack of rice to his friend and that he would pay only at the end of the month. Upon hearing this HL hit SL until he was unconscious.
The victim’s sister took him to the hospital for treatment and the incident was reported to the police.
HL explained to the court that before SL left the house that he had given clear instructions for SL not to make any arrangements for anyone to take a sack of rice first and pay later.
“I have learnt from experience that after they take it they never pay so I told him not to do it,” said HL at the DMC.
HL added that he already apologised to SL for hitting him and that they are still living in the same house. He also promised never to hit him again.
After hearing HL’s declaration, the presiding judge sentenced the accused to a one year suspended sentence.
