Two dossiers on alleged election violators submitted

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta Police handed over two dossiers for election violation cases allegedly involving the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) to the Jakarta Prosecutors' Office on Tuesday.

The city police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang told reporters that police were currently investigating five other similar cases.

The Jakarta Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) reported earlier to the police on Dec. 24 that AB Susanto from PKB was allegedly campaigning in a church. The law stipulates that campaigning in places of worships is prohibited. If convicted, the suspect can be sentenced up to six months in jail and fined up to Rp 1 million (US$119).

The second case was based on Panwaslu's report on Jan. 6 that PPP members held a march on Dec. 4 in which its members displayed party flags and distributed stickers which read, "Vote for PPP".

Article 71(3) 138 of the electoral regulations ban early campaigning -- the General Elections Commission (KPU) set the campaign period from March 11 to April 1 -- and the violators can be sentenced to up to three months in jail or fined up to Rp 1 million.

"We also received a report from the Tangerang Police on Dec. 22 that a regional representative council candidate reported a member of the election organizing committee in Ciputat district for alleged bribery," he said.

The candidate claimed the committee member was involved in bribery to ensure someone's position on the council. However, the candidate failed to pass the screening.

Salempang did not explain why the case in Tangerang was not submitted to the prosecutors' office yet, although the 30-day deadline had passed on Jan. 21.

The National Police, the Attorney General's Office and Panwaslu signed an agreement, stating that the police must finish investigating any violations on the general elections within 30 days after they were reported to the police. The agreement was intended to reduce the red tape in the police and prosecutor's offices.

However, Salempang admitted that the agreement had not been implemented correctly due to the police's tight schedule.

Seven election cases handled by the Jakarta Police

No. Police office Reported on Cases

1. Tangerang Dec. 22 District committee member takes bribe from a regional representative council candidate

2. C. Jakarta Dec. 24 PKB legislative candidate accused of early campaigning and campaigning at a a place of worship

3. Jakarta Jan. 6 PKB members stage a march as a "soft campaign"

4. Jakarta Jan. 6 PPP members stage a march, distributing "Vote for PPP" stickers

5. E. Jakarta Jan. 7 Candidate for regional representative council submits fake diploma

6. Jakarta Jan. 8 Legislative candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) submits fake diploma

7. E. Jakarta Jan. 11 Legislative candidate of the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) campaigns early

Source: Jakarta Police