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