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No money politics in Banggai election: Bawaslu
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Under investigation -- Central Sulawesi Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) head Ratna Dewi Petalolo (center) examines documents of witnesses in a hearing of an alleged money politics case involving Banggai Islands regent and deputy regent candidates Zainal Mus and Rais D. Adam in Palu on Jan. 25. (Antara/Fiqman Sunandar)
T
he Central Sulawesi Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) ruled that the Banggai Islands regent and deputy regent candidates Zainal Mus and Rais D. Adam were proven not guilty of committing election violations in a hearing at the agency’s office in Palu on Monday.
The candidate pair was previously accused of having engaged in structured and systematic money politics.
“After investigating witnesses and several pieces of evidence, we have decided the Banggai Islands regent and deputy regent candidate pair is not guilty of money politics,” said Bawaslu hearing council head Zaidul Bachri Mokoagow.
Rais who attended the four-hour hearing said the council’s decision was in line with the expectation of people in his region. His team would also examine the content of a money politics case report filed with Bawaslu to see whether or not it was libelous.
To ensure the sustainability of democracy in the province, Rais said he and Zainal would forgive the party that filed the report.
“It’s much more elegant if we can forgive each other and focus our attention on our election campaigns."
The candidate pair number four, Irianto Malinggong and Hesmond FL Pandili, earlier reported to Bawaslu the results of their investigation on alleged money politics committed by Zainal-Rais.
Irianto-Hesmond’s lawyer Azriady Bachri said his client would file a case review with Bawaslu in Jakarta as it considered that the ruling was not based on facts.
Four candidate pairs, including Delmart Siako - Najib Bangunan and Hery Ludong - Jumain Lumbon, will run in the Banggai election on Feb.15. (ebf)
