Poll watch to report councillor

Poll watch to report councillor

TANGERANG: The Tangerang Elections Supervisory Committee
(Panwaslu) will report a council member to police for allegedly
using a fake university diploma in his elections application.

Panwaslu chairman Anwarudin said on Thursday he had obtained
proof that Fonaha Mendrofa, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P), had never graduated from Krisna Dwipayana
University in East Jakarta.

"The dean of the economics school in the university, Muhadi
Riyanto, has sent us a confirmation that Mendrofa was never
registered as a student there," he said.

Mendrofa, who signed up as candidate for the Cipondoh
district, Tangerang municipality, claimed he graduated from the
university in 1993. "I will comply with the law should Panwaslu
report me to the police," he told reporters.

Anwarudin said there were also suspicions Mendrofa had been
involved in campaigning and in money politics.

"We got the reports from PDI-P board members themselves," he
said.

He said Mendrofa could face charges for violating Articles 138
and 139 of the election law. The charges carry a maximum penalty
of 18 months' prison. -- JP