Councillor faces trial for early campaigning

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The Bogor District Court began on Thursday the trial on councillor Rizal Barnadi from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction for violating a law on early campaigning.

Prosecutor Nasran Azis said the defendant distributed calendars featuring photographs of PAN chairman Amien Rais, himself and three fellow councillors running in the April 5 legislative election.

The prosecution accused him of deliberately giving out the freebies at a meeting with residents of Kampung Babakan Sirna, Tegalega, Central Bogor district, at the home of PAN supporter Glen Kurdianto held on Jan. 27.

The calendars also bore the slogan: "Amien Rais is my president, PAN is my choice; remember on April 5, pierce the symbol of the sun". Aside from the calendars, the defendant allegedly distributed another set of calendars bearing a photograph of himself.

The case was brought forth by the Central Bogor Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) based on a tip-off from Soekmana Soma, a local resident and PAN member.

"We only named the defendant and not the other three, because it was he who distributed the calendars," Central Bogor Panwaslu chairman Achmad Damanhuri said after the hearing presided by judge Saripudin.

The defendant denied the charges, claiming that the calendars had already been distributed by a PAN official before his arrival at the meeting.

"I was invited as a councillor to observe developments in that village, and it had nothing to do with the party," Rizal told reporters.

Rizal also questioned the credibility of Soekmana Soma.

"He may have harbored resentment against me, because he did not pass the Council's screening for the recent regental election," he said.