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Senator-elect from NTB accused of digitally enhancing ballot photo in April’s election
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Side-by-side comparison of a recent photo of senator-elect Evi Apita Maya (left) and the controversial photo used on the election ballot in April. (Courtesy/Tribunnews.com)
S
enator-elect Evi Apita Maya from an electoral district in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has been sued at the Constitutional Court for allegedly making excessive digital changes to her ballot photo to appear more attractive to voters in April’s legislative election.
Evi was accused by her rival in the election, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member Farouk Muhammad, of being dishonest and therefore violating the established rules of the general election.
“DPD candidate number 26 Evi Apita Maya has allegedly made significant digital changes to her [ballot] photo, which is out of bounds,” said Heppy, Farouk’s lawyer, in front of the judges at the court in Central Jakarta on Friday.
Furthermore, Heppy said, Evi had used the photo in various official campaign materials that also included the DPD logo, such as banners, in an effort to appeal to more voters.
He went on to say the photo had been used by Evi to gain significant traction among the public.
“The voters and other DPD candidates felt that they had been lied to. Therefore, [Evi] has violated the general election rules, because she was not being honest,” Heppy said.
Twenty-seven DPD candidates from NTB took part in the recent election.
