Five stand trial for illegal campaign<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Five defendants, the first people charged under new laws banning
\nearly campaigning, stood trial at the Central Jakarta District
\nCourt on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The five -- PT Citra Bunda director Adi Hartono and his four
\nemployees Hartati, Nunik Wulandari, Sugiharto and Romlah -- were
\nnot accompanied by legal counsel.<\/p>\n
Presiding Judge Effendi Murod began the trial as the
\ndefendants did not contest the indictments.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Payaman said the five were charged with violating
\nArticle 138 of Law No. 12\/2003 on the general elections by
\ncampaigning for the National Awakening Party (PKB) ahead of
\nschedule.<\/p>\n
"They distributed party paraphernalia including symbols,
\npictures and visual aids before the campaign started," the
\nprosecutor said.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has named March 11 as
\nthe starting date for the month-long campaign for parties
\ncontesting the legislative elections.<\/p>\n
Payaman alleged Adi had received an order list last year from
\nAbi Susanto, a legislative candidate for PKB, to make 10,000
\nbrochures, 50 banners, 20,000 stickers and 50,000 T-shirts
\ncarrying 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 to some churches.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 24 the four began giving them to people at the Jakarta
\nCathedral. The police intercepted them and warned them not to
\ncontinue.<\/p>\n
The four allegedly then went to the Batak Protestant church in
\nKemayoran, Central Jakarta and distributed the brochures there.
\nAt the scene, the police arrested them for questioning.<\/p>\n
During the police interrogation, the four admitted they had
\nreceived a Rp 10,000 (US$1.19) daily transport allowance from
\nAdi. Adi admitted it was his idea to distribute the brochures.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges also questioned witnesses Syarif M. Abas
\nand Sugito and a Kemayoran District General Elections Monitoring
\nCommittee member Supriyanto.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/five-stand-trial-for-illegal-campaign-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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