ASN Doctor In Palopo Sentenced To 3 Months In Prison After Campaigning For DPD Candidates

Court illustration (ANTARA)

MAKASSAR - A doctor from the state civil apparatus (ASN) Hamzakir was found guilty by the Palopo City District Court, South Sulawesi, regarding the violation of the 2024 General Election which campaigned for a candidate for the Regional Representative Council (DPD), namely Idrus Paturusi.

"Declaring that the defendant doctor Hamzakir is legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act as a state civil servant violating the prohibition of participating as an executor and election campaign team," said the decision signed by Chief Justice Ahmad Ismail as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, April 4.

The Panel of Judges in their decision also stated that the defendant Hamzakir was legally and convincingly proven to have violated Article 494 Juncto Article 280 paragraph (3) of Law Number 7 concerning General Elections.

For the defendant's actions, the Panel of Judges sentenced Hamzakir to three months in prison. The defendant was not detained, except in one year of committing a criminal act. Sentencing the defendant a fine of Rp. 5 million to a subsidiary of a month in prison.

Previously, Hamzakir was suspected of violating the rules for the 2024 General Election during a health-themed seminar at the Palopo City Rasdiana Center on February 4, 2024 during the campaign period ahead of voting day on February 14, 2024.

The activity was attended by the Candidate for DPD RI for the Electoral Region of South Sulawesi, Prof. Idrus Paturusi, as a speaker for the seminar to discuss the Transformation of Health Services held by the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Palopo City Branch.

On that occasion, Hamzakir openly conveyed that he would fight for Idrus Paturusi in Palopo City, and even mentioned the serial number of the former Chancellor of Hasanuddin University to the seminar participants.

In his submission according to the indictment of the public prosecutor, namely "We all know that Prof. Idrus is running for DPD RI number 13. God willing, Prof., we IDI children will all fight for Prof. in Palopo," said the Chairman of IDI Palopo City Branch.

"So I urge all those who gather here there will be no change. There will be no change. I think that's thanks prof," said a statement that became Bawaslu's proof of Hamzakir's neutrality as ASN.

Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor in his indictment charged Hamzakir with carrying out a campaign beyond his capacity as an ASN. Given that in the seminar room there was also a campaign prop showing the face of Idrus Paturusi.

The defendant's actions were considered part of participating as the implementer of a campaign whose rules were prohibited as referred to in the provisions of Article 280 paragraph (3) and Article 494 of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections.