Jump to full article: Hobart (Tas) Mercury (au), 2002-08-10
Author: Paul Toohey
Intro: East Timor lawyer's association president Benevides Correia Barros said lawyers would not work until East Timorese border officials and police recognised that the bad old days, when they did as they pleased, were over.
The problem began in February when Customs Service Control -- the border police -- seized cigarettes worth $US1200 ($2250) belonging to a small-time trader, Marsal dos Santos.
It was claimed he had not paid import duty but his lawyers argued Mr dos Santos, who was nabbed well inside the East Timor border near Balibo, had bought the cigarettes inside the country and they were legal.
At a preliminary mediation hearing, lawyers asked for the cigarettes -- believed to be the clove-scented killer, Gudang Garam -- back. This was refused so the matter went to court. Customs was ordered to send a representative on three occasions, but each time no one showed.
Finally, a judgment was made in favour of the trader and the cigarettes ordered to be returned. But customs still refused to give them back.
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