Head Of Langko-NTB Village Campaigns For Wife Of DPRD Candidate Proven To Violate Tipilu Sentenced To 3 Months In Prison

The defendant of the Head of Langko Village, Mawardi (red clothes) underwent an election criminal trial campaigning for the wife of the 2024 election legislative candidate at the Mataram District Court, NTB, Monday (5/1/2024). (ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

The Mataram District Court (PN) panel of judges sentenced Langko Village Head Mawardi to 3 months in prison, Mawardi in a case of election crime campaigning for his wife as a legislative candidate for the West Lombok DPRD.

"The defendant Mawardi was sentenced to 3 months in prison," said Chief Justice I Ketut Somanasa reading the verdict against the defendant Mawardi at the Mataram District Court, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Monday, February 5, as reported by Antara.

In addition, the judge in the decision stipulates a fine of Rp. 1 million, subsidiary to 1 month in prison.

In the verdict, the judge said that the defendant's actions had been proven to have violated Article 490 of Law No. 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in accordance with the indictment of the public prosecutor.

Although he agrees with the prosecutor, the verdict handed down by the judge is lower than the prosecutor's demands, which previously asked the judge to sentence him to 5 months in prison and a fine of Rp. 5 million, subsidiary to 4 months in prison.

In the description of the verdict, the judge agreed with the prosecutor's indictment which described the defendant's actions of violating corruption.

The act was related to uploading an image containing one of the legislative candidates for the West Lombok Regency DPRD Number 2 of the PKB Electoral District 5 Narmada Lingsar on behalf of Sister Namibia Fajriah with the words "Don't forget to choose the sons and daughters of Langko Village to contribute to the progress of the village community".

The prosecutor explained that the defendant uploaded a photo of Sumiratul Fajriah, who is none other than his wife and the article on WhatsApp's social media group called "Discussion of Cross Generation" consisting of 112 people on December 5, 2023.

Furthermore, on December 6, 2023, Mawardi again uploaded a photo of his wife on the WhatsApp social media group "Discussion Across Generations" by writing the phrase "Let's choose Namiratul Fajriah, the best daughter of Langko Village for the progress of our beloved village".

On the same day, Mawardi uploaded a photo of his wife on a personal Facebook social media account called Mawardi Mursyid by writing the phrase "The village's best daughter is fighting for the progress of the villages in the Lingsar and Narmada sub-districts, may Allah meridhoi. Amen".

The prosecutor also said that the defendant committed such an act during the campaign period which started from November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024.

By declaring the defendant as a government official who violated neutrality, the prosecutor charged Mawardi with Article 490 of Law No. 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.