[ENG-TET]
The Guardian newspaper of April 8, 2026, explicitly states:
“The joint investigation [carried out by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project – OCCRP] and The Guardian also examined the role of an investor and the face of the resort in Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan also known as Frank Lin. There is no suggestion Lin is sanctioned or a member of Prince Group, and he is not accused of any criminality.”
The article also quoted President Ramos-Horta directly: “Mr. Lin has done nothing wrong in Timor-Leste. It is the government that will decide whether to accept any investment.”
PRESS STATEMENT
Dili, April 29, 2026
The Office of the President of the Republic issues this statement with a spirit of fraternal respect for the Nation, its Constitution and all its elected representatives.
All Timorese share one sacred duty: to serve the Timorese people with truth and justice. In a democracy there will always be differences, but we must never abandon ethics or the rule of law.
Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our democracy. With freedom comes a profound responsibility especially for members of National Parliament. Parliamentary expression is not absolute. When it exceeds the limits of political debate and attacks the personal dignity, honor, and good name of an individual, it becomes a violation of fundamental personal rights. Every human being has a natural right to honor and reputation.
The Presidency has taken note of statements made by The Honorable Member of Parliament Nina Rangel from the FRETILIN Bench, on Monday, April 27, 2026.
MP Rangel alleged that the President granted diplomatic passports to “mafia.” She further claimed these passports were issued irregularly specifically in hotels rather than through proper channels at the Department of Justice. In a heated rhetorical exchange, she accused the President and Nobel Peace laureate of being a “servant” to both the mafia and the political “Maun-Boot” (Xanana Gusmão), citing the President’s own past statement about being ready to “carry Maun-Boot’s briefcase” as long as the President received support from Maun-Boot. MP Rangel referred to the Decree of the President of the Republic No. 64/2025, dated July 4, 2025, concerning the appointment of Mr. Xiaofan Lin (also known as Frank Lin) as Special Advisor to the President for Economic, Commercial, Social and Humanitarian Affairs in the Asia-Pacific Region.
The Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste grants the President of the Republic the power, in the field of international relations, to appoint and dismiss ambassadors, permanent representatives and envoys, in agreement with the Government. (Article 87, paragraph b).
Since independence in 2002, President J. Ramos-Horta, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, has appointed or recommended the appointment of honorary consuls in different countries around the world, and some of them have obtained diplomatic passports. These honorary consuls or other special appointments made by the president serve a very important function: they contribute to raising awareness and interest, and potentially attracting honest investment to Timor-Leste. Granting diplomatic passport to these individuals has been a normal practice in Timor-Leste and around the world.
The allegation that Mr. Lin is a “mafia” figure according to MP Nina Rangel and others is highly defamatory. Mr. Lin himself will deal with these accusations through the proper legal channels.
Nevertheless, the Presidency is compelled to clarify the facts for the Timorese public and for the international community, upon which Timor-Leste depends for investment and partnership.
The President issued a statement on April 7, 2026, stating that Mr. Lin is not involved in any criminal activity nor does he have relations to the Sanctioned Prince Group.
The Guardian newspaper of April 8, 2026, explicitly states:
“The joint investigation [carried out by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project – OCCRP] and The Guardian also examined the role of an investor and the face of the resort in Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan also known as Frank Lin. There is no suggestion Lin is sanctioned or a member of Prince Group, and he is not accused of any criminality.”
The article also quoted President Ramos-Horta directly: “Mr. Lin has done nothing wrong in Timor-Leste. It is the government that will decide whether to accept any investment.”
MP Rangel must present evidence. An OCCRP report does not constitute a judicial finding. An MP who accuses the President of being part of a “mafia network” or labels an individual a “mafia” figure must present legal evidence according to the law.
To date, no court, no INTERPOL notice, and no Chinese judicial authority has labeled Mr. Lin a criminal. He has done nothing wrong in Timor-Leste.
Mr. Lin is a businessman based in Hong Kong and has investments across the world. His business focuses primarily on information technology and blockchain. He first came to Timor-Leste approximately two years ago. To date, he has not made any investments in Timor-Leste. Like many investors, he arrived with ideas, plans, and dreams not yet materialized.
However, Mr. Lin became aware of the President’s humanitarian activities, which seek daily support for the poor, families, communities and students. In response, he began providing support, including laptops, sports equipment, clothing, vitamin supplements and a substantial donation toward scholarships.
Timor-Leste seeks to attract investors. We cannot make baseless allegations against people simply as if someone from an Asian country is linked to organized crime.
The President remains committed to democratic oversight and welcomes responsible debate. But let that debate be rooted in fact, not fear; in legal evidence, not allegations; in ethics, not insult.
In any case, this whole matter is being handled by the Public Prosecutor. Those who have made the allegations will have a chance to present evidence of the defamatory claim to the Public Prosecutor.
END
The Guardian newspaper of April 8, 2026, explicitly states:
“The joint investigation [carried out by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project – OCCRP] and The Guardian also examined the role of an investor and the face of the resort in Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan also known as Frank Lin. There is no suggestion Lin is sanctioned or a member of Prince Group, and he is not accused of any criminality.”
The article also quoted President Ramos-Horta directly: “Mr. Lin has done nothing wrong in Timor-Leste. It is the government that will decide whether to accept any investment.”
Jornál The Guardian iha loron 8 fulan-Abril tinan 2026, hateten ho klaru:
“Investigasaun konjunta ne’ebé hala’o husi Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) no The Guardian mós ezamina papél investidór ida no figura públika husi resort iha Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan – ne’ebé koñesidu mós ho naran Frank Lin. Laiha sujestaun katak Lin hetan sansaun ka nu’udar membru husi Prince Group, no nia la hetan akuzasaun ba krime ruma.”
Artigu ne’e mós sita diretamente Prezidente Ramos-Horta: “Señór Lin la halo sala ida iha Timor-Leste. Governu mak sei deside atu simu investimentu ruma ka lae.”
DEKLARASAUN IMPRENSA
Dili, 29 Abril 2026
Gabinete Prezidente Repúblika fó sai deklarasaun ida ne’e ho espíritu respeitu fraternu ba Nasaun, ba Konstituisaun no ba reprezentante eleitu sira hotu.
Timor-oan hotu iha dever sagradu ida: serbi povu Timor-Leste ho lia-loos no justisa. Iha demokrasia sei sempre iha divergênsia, maibé nunka bele abandona étika ka Estadu Direitu.
Liberdade espresaun nu’udar pilar ida husi ita-nia demokrasia. Maibé, ho liberdade ne’e mai ho responsabilidade ida ne’ebé kle’an espesialmente ba membru Parlamentu Nasionál sira. Espresaun parlamentár la’ós absoluta. Bainhira ida-ne’e ultrapasa limite sira debate polítiku nian no ataka dignidade pesoál, onra, no naran di’ak husi indivíduu, ida-ne’e sai hanesan violasaun ida ba direitu fundamental personalidade nian. Ema hotu-hotu iha direitu naturál ba sira-nia onra no reputasaun.
Prezidénsia nota deklarasaun sira ne’ebé hato’o husi Senhora Deputada Nina Rangel husi Bankada FRETILIN, iha Segunda-feira 27 Abril 2026.
Deputada Rangel alega katak Prezidente fó pasaporte diplomátiku ba “máfia”. Nia alega liután katak pasaporte sira-ne’e fó sai la ho regularidade, liuliu hasai iha hotél, envezde liuhusi kanál loloos sira iha Departamentu Justisa nian. Iha retórika ne’ebé maka’as, nia akuza Prezidente no laureadu Nobel ba Pás nu’udar “atan” tantu ba máfia no ba figura polítika “Maun-Boot” (Xanana Gusmão), hodi sita Prezidente rasik nia deklarasaun iha pasadu kona-ba prontu atu “leba Maun-Boot nia pasta” naran katak Prezidente hetan apoiu husi Maun-Boot. Deputada Rangel refere ba Dekretu Prezidensiál No. 64/2025, ho data 4 Jullu 2025, kona-ba nomeasaun Señór Xiaofan Lin (koñesidu mós ho naran Frank Lin) nu’udar Konselleiru Espesiál ba Prezidente ba Asuntu Ekonómiku, Komersiál, Sosiál no Umanitáriu iha Rejiaun Ázia-Pasífiku.
Konstituisaun Repúblika Demokrátika Timor-Leste fó podér ba Prezidente Repúblika, iha área relasaun internasionál, atu nomeia no ezonera embaixadór sira, reprezentante permanente no enviadu sira, tuir akordu ho Governu. (Artigu 87, alínea b).
Dezde independénsia iha tinan 2002, Prezidente J. Ramos-Horta, ne’ebé hala’o kna’ar nu’udar Ministru Negósiu Estranjeiru, nomeia ka rekomenda ona nomeasaun ba konsul onoráriu sira iha nasaun oioin iha mundu tomak, no balun husi sira hetan ona pasaporte diplomátiku. Konsul onoráriu sira-ne’e ka nomeasaun espesiál sira seluk husi prezidente hala’o funsaun ida ne’ebé importante tebes: sira kontribui ba hasa’e konsiénsia no interese, no potensialmente atrai investimentu onestu ba Timor-Leste. Fó estatutu diplomátiku ba indivíduu sira-ne’e hanesan prátika normal iha Timor-Leste no iha mundu tomak.
Alegasaun katak Señór Lin nu’udar figura “máfia” tuir deputada Nina Rangel no sira seluk mak difamatóriu tebes. Señór Lin rasik sei trata akuzasaun sira-ne’e liu husi dalan legál sira ne’ebé apropriadu.
Maski nune’e, Prezidénsia iha obrigasaun atu esklarese faktus ba públiku Timor-Leste no ba komunidade internasionál, ne’ebé Timor-Leste depende ba investimentu no parseria.
Prezidente fó sai deklarasaun ida iha loron 7 fulan-Abril tinan 2026, ne’ebé hateten katak Señór Lin la envolve iha atividade kriminál ruma no mós la iha relasaun ruma ho Prince Group ne’ebé hetan sansaun.
Jornál The Guardian iha loron 8 fulan-Abril tinan 2026, hateten ho klaru:
“Investigasaun konjunta ne’ebé hala’o husi Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) no The Guardian mós ezamina papél investidór ida no figura públika husi resort iha Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan – ne’ebé koñesidu mós ho naran Frank Lin. Laiha sujestaun katak Lin hetan sansaun ka nu’udar membru husi Prince Group, no nia la hetan akuzasaun ba krime ruma.”
Artigu ne’e mós sita diretamente Prezidente Ramos-Horta: “Señór Lin la halo sala ida iha Timor-Leste. Governu mak sei deside atu simu investimentu ruma ka lae.”
Deputada Rangel tenke aprezenta evidénsia. Relatóriu OCCRP la konstitui desizaun judisiál. Deputada ida ne’ebé akuza Prezidente halo parte iha “rede máfia” ka marka individuu nu’udar “máfia” tenke aprezenta evidénsia legál tuir lei.
To’o ohin loron, laiha tribunál, laiha avizu INTERPOL, no laiha autoridade judisiál Xina nian mak marka Señór Lin nu’udar kriminozu. Nia la halo sala ida iha Timor-Leste.
Señór Lin nu’udar emprezáriu ida ne’ebé hela iha Hong Kong no no iha investimentu sira iha mundu tomak. Nia negósiu foka liu ba teknolojia informasaun no blockchain. Nia primeiru mai Timor-Leste maizumenus tinan rua liubá. To’o ohin loron, nia seidauk halo investimentu ruma iha Timor-Leste. Hanesan investidór barak, nia mai ho ideia, planu, no mehi—ne’ebé seidauk realiza.
Maibé, Señór Lin hatene kona-ba Prezidente nia atividade umanitária sira, ne’ebé buka apoiu loroloron ba ema kiak sira, família, komunidade no estudante sira. Tanba ne’e, nia hahú fó apoiu, inklui laptop sira, ekipamentu desportu, roupa, suplementu vitamina no doasaun substansiál ba bolsa estudu.
Timor-Leste buka atu atrai investidór sira. Ita labele halo alegasaun bazeadu ba ema sira simplesmente hanesan ema husi nasaun Ázia iha ligasaun ho krime organizadu.
Prezidente iha nafatin kompromisu ba supervizaun demokrátika no simu ho satisfasaun debate ne’ebé responsavel. Maibé husu katak debate ne’e bazeia ba faktu, la’ós ta’uk; iha evidénsia legál, la’ós alegasaun; iha étika, labele insulta.
Iha kualkér kazu, kestaun ida-ne’e tomak sei trata husi Ministériu Públiku. Sira ne’ebé halo ona alegasaun ne’e sei iha oportunidade atu aprezenta evidénsia kona-ba reklamasaun difamatória ne’e ba Ministériu Públiku.
REMATA
Jornál The Guardian iha loron 8 fulan-Abril tinan 2026, hateten ho klaru:
“Investigasaun konjunta ne’ebé hala’o husi Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) no The Guardian mós ezamina papél investidór ida no figura públika husi resort iha Timor-Leste, Lin Xiaofan – ne’ebé koñesidu mós ho naran Frank Lin. Laiha sujestaun katak Lin hetan sansaun ka nu’udar membru husi Prince Group, no nia la hetan akuzasaun ba krime ruma.”
Artigu ne’e mós sita diretamente Prezidente Ramos-Horta: “Señór Lin la halo sala ida iha Timor-Leste. Governu mak sei deside atu simu investimentu ruma ka lae.”