DPD candidate goes on trial

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Palu municipality district court began on Thursday the trial of Nurmawati Bantilan, 32, a legislative candidate who is accused of providing false information to officials of Central Sulawesi's General Elections Commission (KPUD).

In her indictment, prosecutor Budiwati said that the defendant initially reported to the KPUD that she was not a member of any political party, so that she would be allowed to run for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) slot, representing the province. Community members later reported to the KPUD that Nurmawati was still a member of Golkar Party.

Nurmawati is the deputy secretary of Golkar Party's Central Sulawesi chapter.

However, Nurmawati denied that she was a member of Golkar Party. "Probably, the accusation was filed by someone that has a personal problem with me," she said. -- JP