Hatta charged with poll offense

Hatta charged with poll offense

BANDUNG: Hatta Radjasa, a legislative candidate for the National
Mandate Party (PAN), has been accused of the misuse of public
facilities for campaign purposes.

The campaign activity on Thursday was not directly carried out
by Hatta, who is also the State Minister of Research and
Technology, but by his wife Oktiniwati Ulfa Dariah.

Ulfa offered free medical service at Pasundan community health
center on Jl. Pasundan in Bandung municipality, along with
another PAN candidate Mariana Deden.

Staff members of the health center said that Ulfa, Mariana and
their entourage suddenly descended on the health center and
unfurled a banner reading: "Welcome Mrs. Hatta Radjasa."

The group, wearing T-shirts bearing PAN symbols, also
distributed party paraphernalia, including cigarette packs
bearing the picture of PAN chairman Amien Rais. The free medical
service was available for two hours.

Tata, a staff member of the health center, said that the
health center accepted the presence of the PAN members, saying
that they flocked to the health center with goodwill, providing
free medical services for locals. In total, Ulfa and Mariana
shouldered the cost of medical services for 47 patients at the
health center on Thursday.

However, the campaign activity was spotted by officials from
the Bandung Election Supervisory Committee (Panwasda) and General
Elections Commission (KPUD).

Heri Safari, a KPUD official, said that Hatta and Mariana
Deden had violated an election law, which carries a maximum
sentence of three months in prison. -- JP