Dili Courtroom Confession
- Bobby Boye, ex-legal advisor to the Government of Timor-Leste, confessed to defrauding the country of $3.51 million dollars in a New Jersey court
- The guilty plea was made in the presence of Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to the US, Domingos Sarmento Alves
Arrest and Investigation
- Bobby Boye was taken into custody at Newark International Airport in June 2014 and charged with wire fraud conspiracy
- The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated an investigation into Boye’s activities following a tip from Timor-Leste authorities
- Cooperative efforts between the FBI and the Timorese government have been ongoing
The Covert Law Firm
- Boye manipulatively established Opus & Best Law Services LLC, a New York law and accounting firm, that Timor-Leste was unaware was secretly controlled by him
- He recommended Opus & Best receive contracts from the Government of Timor-Leste through his influential position
Abreaction before the Court
- Boye acknowledged in court that he abused a position of trust, knowingly, willfully, and with the intent to defraud the Timorese government
- He failed to disclose his affiliation with Opus & Best
Sentencing and Restitution
- Boye’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 13, 2015; he may receive a sentence ranging from 4 to 6 years in prison without parole
- As part of his guilty plea, Boye is obligated to make full restitution to the State of Timor-Leste in the amount of $3.51 million dollars
- The defendant’s seized assets - bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and luxury watches - will be sold to reimburse the nation for damages
Recruitment and Betrayal
- In early 2010, Bobby Boye, an American citizen, was hired by Norway’s Ministry of Finance to work in Timor-Leste under the Norwegian Petroleum Assistance Project (NPAP)
- He assumed the role of Petroleum Tax Advisor in June 2010
Remorse and Repercussions
- Officials from Norway have expressed remorse for overlooking Boye’s past fraudulent activities during the recruitment process
- Timor-Leste’s Minister of State and Official Spokesperson, Agio Pereira, stated: “Justice will prevail in this case.”
- Despite Boye’s deceit, the Government of Timor-Leste continues its progress towards strengthening its systems and capabilities