Carmelita Monis Caetano, from the Commission A Constitution and Justice Matters, confirmed that the CNRT Secretary General Francisco Kilbaudy Lay and former President of Parliament, Aderito Hugo da Costa, had received letters from the Dili District Court seeking to revoke their legal immunity in order to have them stand trial.

Lay – who is in Singapore receiving medical treatment –was due to stand trial earlier this month accused of misusing party funds when he was Minister of Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Costa, accused of illegally withdrawing electricity for personal use in 2016, has said he is  working with the court and a decision was pending.

Costa told parliament that the national electricity company had inspected his house and he was collaborating in the investigation.

“I will not run away from the court because the law applies to anyone who violates it," Costa said

The defendants could claim to be protected by parliamentary privilege.

Caetono said she “recommended immediately revoking the legal immunity”, but that a final decision if the men should stand trial would be made by parliament.

The court summons comes as National Parliament recently revoked legal immunity for Democratic Party members Mariano Asanami Sabino and Antonio da Conceicao – who faced trial last week over alleged misuse of milk importation and rice contracts.

Sabino, accused of falsely importing milk from Australia, has maintained that no milk ever entered Timor-Leste. Conceicao has been accused of false purchases of rice in Baucau.

Each are being tried separately.