"I think it's very easy to catch public servants who commit corruption," he said.

Speaking at the launch of CEPAD’s annual report, President Francisco Lu Olo Guterres said a strict system that arrested public servants found guilty of wasting State money for personal interest was needed.

"If people continue to do corruption and those who benefit from corruption remain silent, then corruption will run rampant in various institutions.”

“And the State of Timor-Leste will lose its dignity," he said.

He said it was too easy for the “rich and elite to sit in silence” as they benefitted from nepotism.

Pointing to low public servant salaries, the President also questioned how such individuals could afford luxury cars and houses and overseas holidays.

Internationally, Timor-Leste ranks 91st out of 180 countries rated by Transparency International in 2017.

The World Bank report on “Ease of Doing Business” ranked Timor-Leste 178th out of 190 countries

Lu Olo said corruption was a threat to Timor-Leste’s peace and its people’s right to equal opportunity.

The President also congratulated CEPAD for disseminating information

to public servants to help them perform their jobs.