Team to probe Kupang election

Team to probe Kupang election

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A team set up by the Ministry of
Home Affairs will investigate allegations of money politics in
the mayoral election in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, a local
official said on Monday.

"The team will arrive in Kupang this week. The probe is being
initiated at the request of locals, and will prove whether the
mayoral election was flawed or not," said J.B. Kosapilawan, the
spokesman for the provincial administration.

The Kupang district legislative council elected on March 23
Col. Samuel Kristian as the city's new mayor, and Daniel Adoe as
his deputy.

The two, nominated by the Golkar and military/police factions
in the council, defeated Albert Foenay and Nicolaus Fransiskus,
the candidates of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan).

The election of Kristian and Adoe sparked a protest by PDI
Perjuangan, which said that the election was tainted. They
alleged that one of its legislators, Harry Teofilus, received a
Rp 10 million bribe to vote for Golkar's candidates. --Antara