The swearing-in ceremony of the Jakarta City Council speaker and two deputies on Monday was marked by a wave of protests alleging money politics had tarnished the Sept. 17 election for the post.

About 500 protesters from the Committee Against Money Politics demanded the swearing-in be suspended until allegations of bribery and money politics were disproven.

"We urge the authorities to send those guilty of bribing councillors in the election to jail," protest coordinator Achmad Nur said.

Councillor Ade Surapriatna of the Golkar Party faction was installed as the council speaker on Monday with Achmad Heryawan of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction and Ilal Ferhard of the Democratic Party faction as his deputies.

The ceremony was presided over by Jakarta High Court chairman Ben Suhendarsyah. The ceremony ran smoothly under tight security provided by members of the Central Jakarta Police and City Public Order Agency.

Nur said recent media reports showed allegations of money politics in the election had substance. Two councillors from the Democratic Party faction have reportedly returned money they received during the election.

Heryawan lost to Ade in the election although the PKS, which has 18 seats in the council, won support from the Democratic Party, which has 16 seats. The Democrats have admitted some of their councillors had "betrayed" the coalition by casting their votes for Ade instead of Heryawan.

Another group of protesters from the Greater Jakarta Student Executive Body (BEM) suspected there had been bribery in the election.

"We have learned from graft cases involving councillors in other provinces nationwide that such corrupt practices are common," protest coordinator Suma said.

The students asked several councillors to sign a written agreement they would stay away from money politics; defend the poor from evictions and help create more jobs during their five- year terms.

Meanwhile, Ade denied allegations he had been involved in money politics. "There has been no money politics. Such allegations are slanderous. Prove it," he said after the ceremony.