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.