Former Corruption Convict Registered as Mayor Candidate in Manado

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jimmy Rimba Rogi, a former mayor of Manado, North Sulawesi, who was indicted as a corruption convict, has been officially registered as a mayor candidate in the city for the period of 2015-2010, reports said Wednesday, July 29, 2015. 

Jimmy is nominated by a coalition consisting of the Functional Group Party (Golkar), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP). In the upcoming election, Jimmy will be paired with Boby Daud, who currently serves as the chairman of Manado branch of PAN.

Reports said that Jimmy was directly endorsed by Vice President Jusuf “JK” Kalla resulting in easy approval from both Abu Rizal Bakrie and Agung Laksono’s camps. During JK’s terms of office as Golkar Chairman, Jimmy served as the chairman of North Sulawesi branch of the party.

Jimmy has fulfilled the requirement written in the General Elections Commission’s Regulations (PKPU) saying that he must informed the public that he was an ex-convict. The Manado General Elections Commission (KPUD) declared that Jimmy and Boby had submitted all necessary documents to be verified. 

During his terms of office in the period of 2005-2010, Jimmy was known for his controversial policy cleaning up street vendors from the city’s downtown, despite the fact that the street vendors had conducted their business activities for a long time. 

In 2008, Jimmy was named as a suspect in a graft case before he was detained in KPK’s prison in 2009.

ISA ANSHAR JUSUF