Timor-Leste Parliament Grills President Over Resort's Alleged Crime Links
In a heated parliamentary session in Dili, Timor-Leste's opposition has launched a fierce inquiry into President José Ramos-Horta's involvement with a controversial cryptocurrency resort project. The focus centers on the AB Digital Technology Resort, which has been embroiled in allegations of connections to a multibillion-dollar Cambodian conglomerate accused of running industrial-scale scams.
Diplomatic Passport and Land Deal Under Scrutiny
Opposition MP Florentino Ximenes da Costa, representing the Fretilin party, raised urgent concerns about how foreign investors secured prime beachfront real estate near the capital's airport. He called on President Ramos-Horta to explain the issuance of a diplomatic passport to Chinese businessman Lin Xiaofan, who serves as a special adviser to the president on economic affairs and has been the public face of the resort project.
"We all know that it is not easy to get a large piece of land on the beachfront, and a major decision has to be made, which would involve some government institutions," Ximenes da Costa told lawmakers. He urged law enforcement to investigate potential local facilitators, warning that the resort might be collaborating with VIPs in Timor-Leste to undermine the nation's integrity.
Alleged Ties to Sanctioned Prince Group
The controversy stems from a months-long investigation by the Guardian and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which uncovered alleged links between three individuals associated with the resort and the Prince Group. This Cambodian conglomerate has been indicted by US authorities on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, described as one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organizations.
US authorities allege the group operated forced-labour compounds engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud, resulting in billions in global losses. In response, assets worth over $15 billion in bitcoin were seized, and luxury properties in London were frozen. A spokesperson for the Prince Group has denied all criminal allegations, labeling them as baseless cash grabs.
President's Defense and National Vulnerabilities
President Ramos-Horta defended his decision to grant Lin a diplomatic passport, stating it was aimed at attracting investment to one of the world's newest and most impoverished nations. However, Timorese sources have described the move as "highly unusual," citing the customs and visa privileges it confers.
In a statement following the report, Ramos-Horta acknowledged Timor-Leste's vulnerability to transnational crime but insisted he had seen no proof of infiltration. "Together with the government and our entire society, we remain alert to the dangers of organized crime," he wrote. "But I cannot accept information that comes merely from media reports or from certain individuals in Timor-Leste – people who may wish evil upon the country or seek to tarnish the name of Timor-Leste."
Calls for Accountability and Investigation
Ximenes da Costa emphasized the need for transparency, urging Ramos-Horta and Foreign Affairs Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas to take responsibility. He stressed that an investigation is crucial to ensure Timor-Leste remains free from corrupt politicians and transnational criminal operations that could damage its economy and international reputation.
Current shareholders in the resort project have denied any involvement with organized crime, noting that alleged Prince Group associates were dismissed after US sanctions were announced in October. Lin Xiaofan has also denied all connections to the Prince Group and is not under sanction or accused of criminality.
As the parliamentary debate intensifies, Timor-Leste faces mounting pressure to address these allegations, balancing economic development with the risks of global crime networks infiltrating its shores.
