The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 05/18/2009 10:28 AM  |  National

Police deployed 456 personnel to secure the Constitution Court Monday as it began a marathon of hearing almost 600 election violation cases.

Kompas.com reported Monday that the court would operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily to finish trying all the cases in the next 36 days. The court will hear 18 cases on Monday alone.

In one court room, court chairman Mahfud MD led a panel of judges trying a case submitted by the Indonesian Democratic Peace party, which protested against what it claimed was the illegal addition of votes in a number of electoral districts.

The court has also prepared teleconference facilities to hear witnesses from various parts of the country who cannot be present at the courtroom.

The police, meanwhile, have deployed a total of 456 personnel to secure the proceedings of the court, including officers to guard demonstrators, an anti-bomb squad and a number of detectives.