Election violations alleged, trial begins<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
Three candidates, who ran for mayor of Binjai, brought their
\ncases to court on Friday, charging that the Binjai Election
\nCommittee had disadvantaged them by changing the election
\nschedule.<\/p>\n
The cases, the first to go to trial following the elections of
\nregional heads in North Sumatra's 13 regencies and municipalities
\nlast month, were heard by the North Sumatra High Court, with
\npresiding judge Ahmad Dahlan.<\/p>\n
The three candidates -- Abdul Gani Sitepu, Hermanan Manan and
\nTengku Indra Bungsu -- said that the committee's decision, which
\nannounced the change of the election schedule from June 27 to
\nJuly 4 only a day before the election date, but then changed it
\nback to June 27, had confused voters so many just did not vote.<\/p>\n
Abdul Gani's lawyer, Aldian Pinem, charged that the change of
\nschedule was made to ensure a win for a certain candidate in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
He said that a day before the Binjai election on June 27, the
\ncommittee's chairman, Akhiar Rahmat Ridwan, announced the change
\nof schedule following the protest of some residents who did not
\nyet have their voter cards.<\/p>\n
But on June 27, at 4 a.m., Akhiar changed the date back,
\nrunning the election as earlier scheduled.<\/p>\n
The decision was rejected by three candidates, with only one,
\nAli Umri, in favor of the last-second decision. Ali Umri has been
\nserving as the Binjai mayor since 2000 and is currently leader of
\nNorth Sumatra provincial branch of the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
After the votes were tallied, Ali Umri, along with his running
\nmate Anhar Monel, was declared the winner with 42,759 votes.<\/p>\n
They were followed by Abdul Gani Sitepu (supported by six
\nparties including the United Development Party) with 35,686
\nvotes, well ahead of Tengku Indra Bungsu (Prosperous Justice
\nParty, Reform Star Party) with 10,259 votes, and Hermanan
\n(supported by a coalition of small parties) with 3,839 votes.<\/p>\n
The court proceedings will continue on July 11.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/election-violations-alleged-trial-begins-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }