T

he Lampung Police have named five West Lampung General Elections Commission (KPUD) commissioners as electoral fraud suspects in the 2014 legislative election.

The commissioners are suspected of having been negligent and putting some legislative candidates at a disadvantage, allowing other candidates to benefit.

The suspects have been identified as Lukman Zaini (head commissioner), Ahmad Malik, Eri Ruslan, Faizo Rahman and Puspawati.

'€œThey signed the report of the 2014 West Lampung legislative election vote recapitulation. It turned out, however, that in the ballot recapitulation, there was an increase in the number of votes for the No. 6 candidate from the Golkar Party, Reza Pahlevi, and a reduction in votes obtained by the No. 1 candidate, Dwie Aroem Hadiati, also from Golkar,'€ Lampung Police general crimes and intelligence director Sr. Comr. Purwo Cahyoko said on Tuesday.

According to Purwo, the commissioners will be charged under Law No. 8/2012 on general elections for House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) members, which carries a one-year jail term and a maximum fine of Rp 12 million (US$1,041).

Purwo said the number of suspects would likely increase as police proceeded to question more witnesses.

Despite being named suspects, the men have not been detained as the maximum prison term is less than five years. '€œIn accordance with the Criminal Code [KUHP], suspects can only be detained for crimes carrying sentences of five years or more,'€ Purwo added.

Previously, the Lampung Police had named 11 suspects for alleged electoral fraud. They were district-level poll organizers and those at polling stations.

Lampung Police chief spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sulistyaningsih said the vote-rigging case involved ballot operators and District Polling Committee (PPK) officials in West Lampung, Tulangbawang, Way Kanan and Tanggamus regencies and Bandar Lampung city.

According to Sulistyaningsih, the electoral fraud case in West Lampung involved civil servants who worked as data input operators. The two suspects have been identified as Dina Merlin, a staff member at the West Lampung KPUD and Andri Oktoridhon, the West Lampung KPUD'€™s head of technical and human relations.

In the case, the vote transfers had been rectified.

'€œSo, the case no longer influences the actual number of votes, but due process against the perpetrators will go ahead,'€ said Sulistyaningsih.

Purwo said the initials of four electoral fraud suspects in Way Kanan were identified only as EA, AR, FG and PH; in West Lampung, DM and AO; and in Tulangbawang, Mar, SM, Suk, AH and RI.

'€œThey were named suspects as they are believed to have violated the General Election Law by inflating the number of votes. The number of suspects may increase as the Lampung Elections Monitoring Agency [Bawaslu] and regency Elections Supervisory Committee [Panwaslu] continue to investigate,'€ Purwo said.