T

he People'€™s Network Against Public Officials Committing Domestic Violence staged a rally on Monday in Magelang, Central Java, demanding stiff punishment against Magelang Deputy Mayor Joko Prasetyo, who allegedly beat his wife, Siti Rubaidah.

The case is currently being tried at the Magelang District Court.

Similar protests were simultaneously held in Surakarta, Yogyakarta and Semarang. The protesters demanded the Magelang municipal council to dismiss defendant Joko from his post.

'€œWe urge Governor Bibit Waluyo to summon Joko and recommend that the home minister dismiss Joko from office,'€ said Semarang rally coordinator Dina Katjasungkana on Monday.

The domestic violence case was brought to trial after Rubaidah filed a complaint that Joko, 47, had repeatedly hit her with a sandal. The physical abuse was committed in front of their daughter.

Rubaidah later filed a complaint with the Magelang Police. For his part, Joko accused Rubaidah of defamation. Despite the ongoing trial, the Magelang Police have named her a suspect.

While the law takes its course, Joko still holds his post as Magelang deputy mayor. At the trial, Joko admitted that he had hit his wife, saying he was just teaching her a lesson.

Prosecutors are seeking a two-month jail sentence against Joko if he is found guilty of domestic violence.

'€œThe sentence demand fails to deliver justice to the people, especially women. It is clear that in the legal process, justice for women is being neglected,'€ said rally coordinator Dina.

She said her group had also urged the Home Ministry and political parties to uphold Law No. 23/2004 on domestic violence and marital crimes as a benchmark for public officials in senior positions.

According to Rubaidah'€™s legal team, since marrying Joko, she has been subjected to various forms of domestic violence, both physical and mental, including being beaten and kicked, and having personal items, such as her cell phone, deliberately broken.

Rubaidah'€™s lawyers said the mental abuse suffered at the hands of Joko included extramarital affairs he has had with other women since 2000.

According to Rubaidah, the actions violate Law No. 23/2002 on child protection and Law No. 23/2004 on domestic violence.

Apart from the incidents, Rubaidah also reported that her husband was had undergone an unregistered marriage (nikah siri).

She accused Joko of informally marrying the woman, identified by her initials as SZN. It is believed the marriage has not been registered at the Religious Court, thus violating Law No. 1/1974 on marriage. The case is still being handled by the local police.

Data gathered by Legal Resources for Gender Equality and Human Rights showed that 3,366 women in Central Java experienced some form of violence from 1998 to 2012, and that 107 of them had died as a result.

From October 2011 until November 2012, 408 cases of violence against women were reported, 10 percent of which saw charges brought against civil servants.