Case file
Killing of Erick Bria, Leonildo Sequeira, and Luis Belo (Kulu Hun shooting)
Documents violence · ongoing investigation — written to inform, not to shock.
Background
Police brutality had been a recurring concern in Timor-Leste since the country's independence, with prior incidents reported in Bebonuk (Dili), Praia dos Coqueiros, Ainaro (2017), Covalima (2016), Hera (2012), Delta Nova (2009), and Viqueque (2007). These earlier cases form the backdrop against which the Kulu Hun shooting occurred.
The Shooting
In the early morning of 18 November 2018, four off-duty police officers — identified as José Mina, and three others known by the initials FMS, AJS and AJT — were attending a *kore metan* (end-of-mourning ceremony) hosted by a colleague. All four were intoxicated and in plain clothes. Shortly after midnight, an argument broke out between two men at the gathering, and the officers attempted to intervene. During the confrontation, a power outage plunged the area into darkness. José Mina then stood on a bench and fired his service pistol into the dark crowd.
Three 18-year-old men were killed instantly: Erick Joni Robertus Bria, struck in the head; Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira, struck in the chest; and Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo, struck in the throat. Five other people were seriously injured in the shooting.
Aftermath
The killings provoked immediate public outrage directed at Timor-Leste's National Police, and protests broke out in Dili the day after the shooting. On 27 March 2019, José Mina was sentenced to 25 years in prison, and FMS received a 20-year sentence.
The case remained a point of reference in subsequent years amid continued concerns over police conduct. Further protests occurred after a separate fatal shooting on 5 June 2021, in which a PNTL officer fired at people in their homes in Lahane, killing Mateus "Amino" de Deus and fatally wounding his son Camilo de Deus, while critically injuring their son-in-law. That incident is referenced as part of the broader pattern of unrest linked to police shootings in Timor-Leste but is a separate case from the Kulu Hun shooting.
Key facts
- Victims
- Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo, Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira, Erick Joni Robertus Bria
- Date
- 2018
- Location
- Dili, Timor-Leste
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2018-11-18
Off-duty, intoxicated police officer José Mina fires his service pistol into a crowd during a power outage at a party in Dili, killing three 18-year-old men and injuring five others.
2019-03-27
José Mina is sentenced to 25 years in prison; fellow officer FMS is sentenced to 20 years.
Best coverage
No approved coverage links are attached yet.
People
FMS
CONVICTEDOff-duty police officer present at the shooting, sentenced to 20 years in prison.
citation on file
Luis Quevin Saldanha Belo
VICTIM18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the throat.
citation on file
José Mina
CONVICTEDOff-duty police officer convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing the shots that killed three men.
citation on file
Leonildo "Leo" Eduardo Ximenes Sequeira
VICTIM18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the chest.
citation on file
Erick Joni Robertus Bria
VICTIM18-year-old killed instantly, shot in the head.
citation on file
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- An off-duty, intoxicated police officer opened fire into a crowd at a party in Dili, Timor-Leste in November 2018, killing three 18-year-old men and wounding five others; the officer and a colleague were later convicted and sentenced.
- Where did the killing happen?
- Dili, Timor-Leste.
- Who was convicted?
- FMS (Off-duty police officer present at the shooting, sentenced to 20 years in prison.) and José Mina (Off-duty police officer convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing the shots that killed three men.).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved.
Sources
- Kulu Hun shootingwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — The Guardiannews · The Guardian · 2026-07-07
- Contemporaneous coverage — easttimorlawandjusticebulletin.comnews · easttimorlawandjusticebulletin.com · 2026-07-07
