Election violations alleged, trial begins

Election violations alleged, trial begins

Apriadi Gunawan
The Jakarta Post/Medan

Three candidates, who ran for mayor of Binjai, brought their
cases to court on Friday, charging that the Binjai Election
Committee had disadvantaged them by changing the election
schedule.

The cases, the first to go to trial following the elections of
regional heads in North Sumatra's 13 regencies and municipalities
last month, were heard by the North Sumatra High Court, with
presiding judge Ahmad Dahlan.

The three candidates -- Abdul Gani Sitepu, Hermanan Manan and
Tengku Indra Bungsu -- said that the committee's decision, which
announced the change of the election schedule from June 27 to
July 4 only a day before the election date, but then changed it
back to June 27, had confused voters so many just did not vote.

Abdul Gani's lawyer, Aldian Pinem, charged that the change of
schedule was made to ensure a win for a certain candidate in the
election.

He said that a day before the Binjai election on June 27, the
committee's chairman, Akhiar Rahmat Ridwan, announced the change
of schedule following the protest of some residents who did not
yet have their voter cards.

But on June 27, at 4 a.m., Akhiar changed the date back,
running the election as earlier scheduled.

The decision was rejected by three candidates, with only one,
Ali Umri, in favor of the last-second decision. Ali Umri has been
serving as the Binjai mayor since 2000 and is currently leader of
North Sumatra provincial branch of the Golkar Party.

After the votes were tallied, Ali Umri, along with his running
mate Anhar Monel, was declared the winner with 42,759 votes.

They were followed by Abdul Gani Sitepu (supported by six
parties including the United Development Party) with 35,686
votes, well ahead of Tengku Indra Bungsu (Prosperous Justice
Party, Reform Star Party) with 10,259 votes, and Hermanan
(supported by a coalition of small parties) with 3,839 votes.

The court proceedings will continue on July 11.