PAN's Lie cleared of poll violation

PAN's Lie cleared of poll violation

SEMARANG: The Semarang District Court acquitted on Thursday
National Mandate Party (PAN) legislative candidate Alvin Lie Ling
Piao. He was charged with early campaigning.

The panel of judges said in their verdict that the prosecutors
failed to prove that the defendant had committed the offense in a
public place, a violation which carries a maximum sentence of
three months in jail and a Rp 1 million (US$116) fine.

The court also ordered the "restoration of Lie's good name".

A non-governmental organization (NGO) reported Lie to the
police in February after he allegedly donated a calendar to a
Semarang resident with the pictures of himself and PAN leader
Amien Rais on it. The NGO considered it a form of early
campaigning before the official campaign period began on April
11. -- JP