Bawaslu Traces Mobilization Of Village Heads In Central Java, Sanctions That Violate 6 Months In Prison

Chairman of Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja in a press conference at the Bawaslu office, Jakarta, Monday (28/10/2024). BETWEEN/HO-Bawaslu RI. (ANTARA/HO-Bawaslu RI)

Chairman of Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja admitted that his party was investigating the alleged mobilization of village heads to support one of the candidate pairs in the 2024 Central Java Pilkada.

"We are still waiting for information from the Semarang City Bawaslu. Is this an alleged election, or a violation of neutrality, or not a violation," said Bagja as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 28.

He explained that the perpetrators are threatened with criminal penalties in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations if they are proven to have committed violations.

The shortest sanction is imprisonment of 1 month and a maximum of 6 months or a fine of at least Rp. 600 thousand or a maximum of Rp. 6 million.

In addition, Bagja assessed that if this case developed and was proven to be a criminal offense, heavier sanctions could be imposed, including the removal of the position of village head.

"After that, it can also be improved, if it is like this, can the position of the village head be removed or not from the Ministry of Home Affairs determine it," he explained.

He said that if what was violated was only related to neutrality without a criminal element, the sanctions were not in the form of criminal penalties.

"When it comes to neutrality, the sanctions are almost usually not criminal sanctions. So the possibility is still in office," continued Bagja.

Previously, on Friday (25/10), the Semarang City Bawaslu raided dozens of village heads who were gathering at a luxury hotel. They are suspected of being mobilized to win one of the candidate pairs.

The incident began with information that there was a mobilization of village heads from various regions in Central Java to support one of the candidate pairs in the Central Java Pilkada. Bawaslu Semarang deployed 11 people to check the location on Wednesday (23/10).

Arriving at the location, Bawaslu officers were constrained. They were only able to enter the room after meeting one of the village heads who had just arrived.

The village heads claimed to be part of the Central Java Village Head Association (PKD). They have the slogan "One Joint Command Until the End".

After interviewing several participants, Bawaslu found that the village heads were not only from Semarang. Each village is represented not only by the village head, but also by the village secretary.

Confirmed districts include Pati, Rembang, Blora, Sukoharjo, Sragen, Kebumen, Purworejo, Klaten, Wonogiri, Cilacap, Brebes, Pemalang, Kendal, Demak, and Semarang.

Even so, the Semarang City Bawaslu has reported this finding to the Bawaslu of Central Java Province.