Court hands down fine to early campaigners<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In the first trial for election violations at the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court, a businessman and his four employees were found
\nguilty, but given light slaps on the wrist, for early campaigning
\nthat violated the law on general elections.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges ordered PT Citra Bunda director Adi
\nHartono and his four employees of Hartati, Nunik Wulandari,
\nSugiharti and Romlah to pay fines of Rp 200,000 (US$23) for the
\ndirector and Rp 100,000 for each of the employees.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Effendi Murod said in his verdict that the
\ndefendants were guilty of violating Article 138 of Law No.
\n12\/2003 on the general elections, by campaigning for the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) ahead of the official campaign season.<\/p>\n
\"We found the defendants guilty of distributing the party's
\nflyers, symbols, pictures and other items in support of PKB
\nlegislative candidate Abi Susanto before the scheduled campaign
\ntime,\" the verdict said.<\/p>\n
Adi, who was not accompanied by legal counsel in the course of
\nthe court proceedings, immediately paid the fine ordered against
\nhim and his four employees.<\/p>\n
\"Although I am not satisfied with the ruling, I am willing to
\npay the fine as I don't want to be involved in this legal issue
\nany longer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The defendants stated that they did not know about the
\ncampaign regulation, but added that a similar verdict should also
\nbe handed down to other violators.<\/p>\n
In the indictment, prosecutors -- who sought 15 days in jail
\nfor the offense -- said that Adi received an order last year from
\nAbi to make 10,000 brochures, 50 banners, 20,000 stickers and
\n50,000 T-shirts bearing the party's symbol and Abi's face.<\/p>\n
After finishing the order, Adi, on his own initiative, told
\nhis four employees to distribute the brochures in some churches.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 24, the four began giving them to churchgoers at the
\nJakarta Cathedral. The police saw them and told them to stop. But
\nthen the four went to the Batak Protestant church in Kemayoran,
\nCentral Jakarta and distributed the brochures there. That is when
\nthe police arrested them.<\/p>\n
The four told police investigators that they received Rp
\n10,000 each from their boss for transportation.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced March 11 as
\nthe starting date for a 21-day campaign period for the 24 parties
\neligible for the legislative elections.<\/p>\n
Article 133 of Law No. 12\/2003 stipulates that a trial to hear
\na violation of the election law must be completed in less than 21
\ndays.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/court-hands-down-fine-to-early-campaigners-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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