An ex-policeman who allegedly shot and critically wounded East Timor's president last month was in custody yesterday after surrendering to police, military officials said.
Amaro da Costa turned himself in without a fight on Saturday, handing over two automatic weapons and some ammunition, Lieutenant Colonel Filomeno Paixao said. Two military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, described him as an ex-policeman suspected in the shooting.
East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta is still recovering from the Feb. 11 attack outside his home. East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped unharmed from an ambush on his motorcade the same day.
"I want this nation to be stable," said da Costa, who is among 17 suspects wanted in the attack.
Prosecutors have said the suspects each face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of attempting to murder the country's two top leaders.
"If I didn't surrender this nation would never develop," da Costa said.
The attacks -- which underlined East Timor's volatility just six years after declaring independence -- were the culmination of a bitter dispute between hundreds of renegade troops like da Costa and the government.
Da Costa told reporters yesterday he "was involved" in the "incident" at Ramos-Horta's residence, but refused to elaborate.
"I will explain the details at the Attorney General's office," he said.
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