KPU Depok grilled over fake voter cards
KPU Depok grilled over fake voter cards
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police questioned Zulfadli, the chairman of the Depok Elections Commission (KPU Depok), on Thursday over fake voter registration cards allegedly issued by the election body prior to the mayoral election on June 26.
Several non-governmental organizations reported Zulfadli to the Depok police after they found voter cards issued in the names of people who were not listed on the permanent voter list (DPT).
Detectives chief Adj. Comr. Mono Supandi said that Zulfadli was questioned as a witness following the report that fake voter cards had been found at polling stations 31 and 32 in Kemirimuka subdistrict, Beji district.
"He may be declared suspect if there is prima facie evidence that he was involved in the case. But it depends on the results of our investigation," he told the press.
The Depok KPU on Tuesday declared Nur Mahmudi Ismail of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as the winner in the Depok mayoral election, despite protests by supporters of mayoral candidate Badrul Kamal, who came second.
Nur Mahmudi took five of the six districts in the municipality.
Zulfadli denied that the Depok KPU had issued voter cards to those not on the permanent voter list, adding that if such cards had been issued, it was entirely due to an administrative error.
"As Depok KPU chairman, I am not involved in this sort of technical work," he told The Jakarta Post by cell phone after being questioned by the police, adding that the printing of the voter cards is the responsibility of Depok KPU's voter registration working group.
Meanwhile, supporters of former mayor Badrul continued to protest the official results of the election.
Dozens of residents from Sawangan district demonstrated in front of Depok police station on Thursday, demanding that Zulfadli be investigated, the Depok KPU be dissolved, and the election result overturned.
A member of the Badrul reelection team, Babai Suhaemi, said that his camp could not accept the outcome of the mayoral election until alleged violations committed before and during the election had been investigated.
According to Babai, he has set up a team to submit objections to the election result to the Depok prosecutor's office, the Cibinong District Court, and the Supreme Court.