Every major election poses a challenge to law enforcement authorities: punishing candidates who violated laws in the fastest and fairest manner. The general election held last week is no exception.
In this sense, the state prosecution and police appear to be doing a good job. Prosecutors have already arrested a close associate of a lawmaker-elect on suspicion of attempting to buy a parliamentary seat under the proportional representation system.
Investigators armed with court-issued warrants have searched the offices and homes of five more lawmakers-elect, and there should be more such cases as the authorities widen their investigations.
So far, the state prosecution has earmarked 1,451 people, including 104 lawmakers-elect, for investigation, a steep increase from 1,096, including 79 lawmakers-elect, four years ago.
In addition, police are separately investigating 1,267 people, including 43 lawmakers-elect, some of whom overlap with those under the prosecution’s investigation. As usual, the suspects’ offenses include smear campaigns against rival candidates, offering money, free meals or entertainment to voters and engaging in premature campaign activities.
Four years ago, 31 lawmakers-elect were indicted for such charges and 10 were convicted, forfeiting their parliamentary seats. For sure, the number will be higher this time around, given that a greater number of lawmakers-elect are under investigation now.
In bringing the lawbreakers to justice, the first thing the prosecution and court must bear in mind is speed.
This is because most lawbreakers will still take their oaths of office on May 31 and will be able to hold onto their parliamentary seats until the Supreme Court makes a ruling on their cases.
The court said it would try to complete the work of the lower and appeals court on the illegal election cases within two months of indictment. But the problem is that the earliest Supreme Court ruling on them is expected no earlier than next March.
This means those who broke the law will be allowed to make laws for us for about nine months. We need to do something to rectify this stupidity. Holding elections earlier may be one way to shorten the time lawbreakers have to act as our representatives.
