TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Gerindra Jakarta head Muhammad Taufik talked of the arrest conducted by North Jakarta Resort Police against his subordinate, Charles Lubis, for alleged money politics. Taufik explained that Charles brought money to pay witnesses at voting stations.

“The Law allows fund grant for witnesses, witness coordinators in the level of the neighboring unit (RW), sub-district because it is part of politics cost,” said Taufik in the Prabowo - Sandiaga team secretariat in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 16.

Taufik said he was giving instruction before witness coordinators in his office, Muhammad Taufik Center (MTC) in Warakas, North Jakarta, when the arrest taking place.

The Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) deputy speaker then questioned the arrest because if it was an alleged election violation, the authority having the right for running the act is the Election Supervisory Board’s (Bawaslu) Integrated Law Enforcement (Gakkumdu), instead of the police.

North Jakarta Resort Police arrested Charles Lubis on Monday, April 15, 2019, in front of the MTC Post and confiscated 80 white envelopes containing Rp500,000 each. Based on information spread among the public, it was related to alleged money politics.

Taufik demanded the police not to discriminate him because of the money. “If that’s the case, I think all people paying witnesses should be arrested,” he underlined.

His lawyer Yupen Hadi said the police have no legal authority to arrest Charles Lubis in such a sting operation, and that his side is waiting for the latter’s status who is currently examined in Jakarta North Police for an alleged money politics.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI