Police begin probe into election VCD

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A joint team comprising officers from the National Police and the Central Java Police arrived here on Tuesday to begin an investigation into the circulation of video compact discs (VCDs) of a police meeting that was held ahead of the July 5 presidential election.

Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Chaerul Rasyid said after a closed-door meeting with local police that officers had seized evidence and were questioning a VCD producer, two police officers and a local councillor as witnesses in the case.

The VCD shows a gathering of retired officers and family members of officers hosted by Banyumas Police chief Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparese, during which he allegedly told those in attendance to vote for Megawati Soekarnoputri in the election.

Since the existence of the VCD was uncovered by the University of Indonesia's Alumni Association, it has been in great demand in Purwokerto and surrounding towns.

A pirated VCD vendor said a member of the campaign team for one of the presidential candidates was among those people desperately looking for a copy of the VCD. -- Antara