13 councillors probed over fake documents

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post/Padang

At least 13 councillors in a number of cities in West Sumatra province have been discovered to have used fake school diplomas and health certificates in their candidacy applications, an official said on Friday.

Hasril Chaniago, a member of the West Sumatra office of the General Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), said that five case files on the 13 councillors had been submitted to the police in their respective cities.

Two of the five councillors have been inducted, namely Machlis Agung, a member of the Limapuluh Kota legislative council, and Ernie ZN of the Padang city council.

usrin Affendi of the Sawahlunto Sijunjung council has been discharged, while Sukri Nazar from the Payakumbuh legislature is currently in detention for falsifying his health certificate.

No information is available yet on follow-up in the case of H. Nusyirwan, a councillor from Payakumbuh.

"Sukri has been detained in response to a lawsuit filed by representatives of the Adnan WD hospital, a certificate from which has been falsified," Hasril said.

The cases of the other eight councillors are being clarified and verified in the respective cities, he said, while declining to reveal their names.

"We hope the clarification and verification will be completed within the next two weeks," Hasril said.

At least 27 candidates for membership of legislative councils in the province were disqualified for submitting fake diplomas and other certificates.