Timor Leste’s former president and four-time prime minister Xanana Gusmao has come under fire for joining the birthday party of a defrocked American priest jailed for child sex abuse.

The photos and videos showing Gusmao celebrating the 86th birthday of his long-time friend and ex-priest, Richard Daschbach, in Becora Prison in the capital Dili, on Jan. 26, sparked debates on social media.

Photos showed Gusmao, flanked by some other guests, cutting and sharing cake while smiling.

Richard Daschbach was sentenced to 12 years in jail in December 2021 for sexually abusing several minors in a childcare home he founded in the 1990s.

Supporters of the abuse victims said the incident has hurt them.

“This was very painful for the victims to see. It is a slap in the face to the victims,” a source close to the victims told UCA News on Jan 30.

She condemned…