Jakarta – A candidate in last week's legislative elections in Indonesia won nearly 800 votes despite having died three months ago, poll officials said Tuesday.

"It's a bit ridiculous," said Andi Mappinawang, an election committee member in South Sulawesi province where the mix-up occurred. "Maybe the voters didn't know that he had died," he said.

Mirdin Kasim passed away in February, shortly after the deadline for printing ballot papers had passed, he said. It was impossible to inform all the people in the region of his death, Mappinawang said.

Kasim was one of 33 candidates contesting the south Sulawesi seat in the regional representatives council, a newly created body that will sit in Jakarta.

The vote took place April 5. On the same day, Indonesians also voted for members of the national legislature, and provincial and local legislative councils.