Eight submit fake diplomas, six brought to police
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta Provincial Elections Commission (KPUD) announced on Friday that eight legislative candidates from various parties had submitted fake diplomas, while the Jakarta Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) reported six other candidates to the Jakarta Police for various offenses.
"We found eight candidates had handed in fake diplomas, six from high schools and two from universities, after we double- checked with the schools," said the KPUD chairman Mohamad Taufik.
The chairman of the West Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Mustaman, who is also a member of the Jakarta City Council, is one of those candidates who allegedly submitted a fake diploma with his candidacy documents.
The seven other candidates identified by KPUD are Achmad Laisak of the Golkar Party's South Jakarta branch, Arifuddin of the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB)'s North Jakarta branch, R. Sumantri RM of the North Jakarta branch of the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK), Belly Belalu Salam of the United Development Party (PPP)'s East Jakarta branch, Djaya Kartakusumah of the East Jakarta branch of Golkar, Supardiman of the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme) and Acun Sunanjaya of the Central Jakarta branch of Golkar.
"We have handed over copies of these fake diplomas to Panwaslu so that they can look into whether or not to involve the police in the matter," Taufik said.
He also said the names of other legislative candidates who submitted fake diplomas would be announced as they were discovered.
Panwaslu, meanwhile, said it had reported six legislative candidates and one Regional Representative Council member to the police for various offenses.
"We filed police reports because AB Susanto of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Tiurlan Hutagaol of the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) were campaigning in churches, while Lasman Y Siahaan and Mustaman submitted fake school diplomas," said the head of Jakarta Panwaslu, Sarluhut Napitupulu.
According to electoral regulations, campaigning in places of worships is prohibited.
"Two other PPP (candidates) were also campaigning early. I think these cases are ready for trial," said Sarluhut.
Law No. 12/2003 on general elections and KPU regulations states that a candidate that submits fake documents will be removed from the list of legislative candidates, while the Panwaslu has the authority to report violations to the police.
Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Prasetyo said the police had received Panwaslu's complaints and were processing the cases.
"We have a special team to investigate election violations and they have examined the cases. We have 30 days to forward the cases to the prosecutor's office," he said.
He added that the police would also use the criminal law to charge candidates who submitted fake documents.