---

The trial for North Gorontalo Election dispute in the Constitutional Court, Monday (17/11), entered the witness hearing session. The trial was attended by the winner of the election based on the Regional Election Commission, Candidate No. 1, Drs. H. Rusli Habibie. Constitutional Board of Justice also accepted the presence of nine witnesses from the Petitioners side and six witnesses from the Petitionees side. 

In the trial for case No. 31/PHPU.D-VI/2008, the Petitioners Legal Counsel tried to support their evidences brought through information from the witnesses presented. Money politics actions were revealed in the last trial were emphasized by presenting a witness named Hitler. In his information, Hitler said, “I was asked to be loyal to my superintendent, Secretary to Head of Tolingula District, and I was asked to win package No. 1.”

Before, together with his Village Head, he was asked by the Secretary of Head District to come to the Secretary s home and asked to help the secretary to win Rusli and Indra pair with 100,000 rupiahs compensation per person he got. At that night, the Village Head and Secretary were given 100.000 rupiahs and it was divided into 50.000 rupiahs each person.  

Information from Petitionees Witnesses
Meanwhile, the Petitionees also presented witnesses to support their argument that there was no mistake in the mechanism of North Gorontalo election process. ”North Gorontalo Election have been conducted according to the regulation,” said Taufan, the fifth witness in position of Watchers Committee.

Board of Constitutional Justice tried to explore more from Taufan about the Petitioners’ report telling that they had tried to make a protest and delay the decision of the recapitulation in Sub district level which was then by the Watchers Committee responded in form of Election Watchers Committee Recommendation Letter No. 94. But then, in a night the Committee again issued a Recommendation Letter No. 95 about the Anulment of Recommendation Letter No. 94.

Constitutional Justice Muhammad Alim asked Taufan, “Why did you issue a recommendation No. 95 that annulled recommendation No. 94?” Taufan confessed that the Recommendation 94 was made under strong pressure from demonstrators who demanded the delay in announcing the recapitulation result.

Then, ”Did you know that in settling an objection report, The Committee should have issued a decree as regulated by the law?” continued Alim. Taufan answered, ”Yes, I know that.”

However, when Alim asked another question about the reason for Taufan made the recommendation letter containing a decision, Taufan remained silent.

In the end of the trial lasted for three and a half hour, the Board gave the Legal Counsels of both Petitionees and Petitioners to submit their conclusion. ”Please use your right to submit your conclusion on this case, which we will bring to the Justice Plenary Meeting,” said Akil.

Before closing the trial, the Board reminded that the deadline for North Gorontalo Dispute would be on November 25, 2008. (Rafles Abdi Kusuma)  

Foto: Dok. Humas MK/Andhini SF
Translated by Yogi Djatnika / MK

---