Speaking from the office of the President of the Republic, Timur said the actions of politicians using their positions to gain legal immunity denigrated the State and went against the independence many Timorese had struggled for.

"We first heard that the police would arrest Francisco Kalbuadi Lay. This did not happen and then he returned to parliament. There must be a solution, if not a solution, ask me so that I give a solution," Timur said on Friday.

"We know that nowadays there are many people who are looking for opportunity. We can say they are opportunists because these people use their intelligence and look for legal loopholes for self-gain.”

Timur’s comments came as the President of National Parliament, Arao Noe, sought to downplay the impact of Lay’s appointment as a member of parliament on Monday.  

During a meeting with the President of the Republic Francisco Lu Olo Guterres on Friday Noe said National Parliament would “only” discuss revoking Lay’s legal immunity if it received another summons from the High Court for Lay to appear.

"Kalbuadi Lay does not hide in his immunity in the National Parliament, all processes will run smoothly, we are still waiting for a new notification letter from the court,” Noe said.

Lawyer Manual Tilman agreed Lay’s case was a legal matter for the court but said the fact remained that the court had not issued an arrest warrant and the case remained at investigation stage.

Speaking in parliament after his appointment last Monday, Lay confirmed he had received three High Court summons but had not attended the hearings because he was receiving medical treatment in Singapore.

He said his presence in parliament was not to gain legal immunity, and that he was ready to declare his case in court.

Addressing the investigation, Lay said: "I will be examined by the Public Prosecutor whenever it is necessary…..whether (I have been) wrong or right will be determined in court.”

Lay’s investigation relates to allegations of corruption while he was serving as Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture in the former government.