Cirebon Mayor broke election law: Panwaslu

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

After a three-day investigation, the Cirebon Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) has ruled Cirebon Mayor Subardi violated election rules by campaigning for incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The local Panwaslu had sent its file on the case to Cirebon Municipality Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Siswandi, so Subardi could face further police questioning, chairman Wasikin Marzuki said on Monday.

"We will investigate the case quickly and thoroughly," Siswandi said.

Wasikin said Subardi had failed to take leave while campaigning for Megawati and Hasyim Muzadi on Sept. 16 -- the third day of official campaigning for the presidential election. By backing Megawati, the mayor was also guilty of breaching the law's impartiality principle governing state officials, he said.

Panwaslu said Subardi had violated Article 40 of Presidential Election Law No. 23/2003, which prohibits government officials from making decisions or behaving in a manner during the campaign period that could favor a presidential or vice-presidential candidate.

If found guilty, Subardi faces a maximum sentence of six month's jail.

Wasikin said the Panwaslu had decided to charge Subardi in a plenary session on Monday after it questioned him and four other witnesses.

Subardi's case surfaced after the Panwaslu discovered a video compact disc (VCD) showing footage of him participating in a campaign held on Sept. 16. On the VCD, Subardi is shown officiating over the establishment of the Mega-Hasyim Campaign Forum, as well as appealing to people gathered at the meeting to vote for Megawati.