António da Conceição ‘Kalohan’ worked since 2012 as a senior member of National Parliament with the Democratic Party.

He was dismissed from his position as Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Indonesia in January this year, after Timorese magistrates charged him with crime of economic participation in a business and sentenced him to five years in prison.

Prosecutors said a construction tender Kalohan awarded to Hugo Amor Unipessoal Ltd in 2015 for a salt business cost the State US$350,000. The project was not completed, according to officials at the time.

The Appeal Court in Dili found Kalohan innocent of corruption and attempted financial gain, citing  a lack of evidence to convict him.

" The case was dismissed as result of no sufficient evidence ," said the lawyer speaking to media after the verdict.

Kalohan told media he was “very happy” with  the Court of Appeals’ decision.

“Now I can move around freely, because my dignity has been restored,” he said.