Preliminary hearing on the Madiun Municipality Election Results Dispute (PHP), Thursday (7/26) in the Courtroom of the Constitutional Court. Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

The Constitutional Court (MK) held the preliminary hearing Election Results Dispute (PHP) of Madiun Municipality, Thursday (7/26). Candidate Pair Number 2 of Madiun Mayor and Deputy Mayor Haryyadin Mahardika-Arief Rahman as Petitioners questioned the Final Voters List (DPT) data. 

Rifat Bazri Hambakung as legal counsel stated that there was no recent DPT update. In addition, the Petitioners argued that there were invalid double DPTs. "There are 3,008 double DPTs in 310 polling stations (TPS) in 26 villages and 3 sub-districts. Therefore, we suspect that the vote markup was to further one of the candidates," he explained in the session chaired by the Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat. 

In addition, Rifat revealed that 900 of the voters had died but were included in the DPTs. In addition, the Petitioners also argued that due to the absence of DPT update, 13,098 invitation letters (C-6 letter) were found to have been returned. According to the Petitioners, these actions constitute a pattern of violations that are structured, systematic, and massive (TSM). 

The Petitioners also suspected money politics by the Number 1 Candidate Pair Maidi-Inda Raya Ayu Miko Saputri. In addition, the Petitioners also argued that there were 969 fewer votes for the Petitioners in nine villages. Rifat asserted that his client did not emphasize the votes margin of the Petitioners and the election candidate winners because votes margin reaches 4.02 percent, where the Petitioners received 35,352 votes and the winners 39,465 votes. 

"However, we [are focusing on] on violations that are structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) that we were kept from fulfilling the requirements for votes margin. Referring to Article 158 paragraph (1) letter a of Law Number 10 of 2016," he said on Case No. 56/PHP.KOT-XVI/2018. 

In the petitum, the Petitioners requested a re-vote in all of Madiun Municipality based on the existing frauds. In addition, they also requested that the vote recapitulation results with Maidi-Inda Raya Ayu Miko Saputri as winners be revoked. 

At the same time, another hearing was held on the Election of Rote Ndao 2018 Regent and Deputy Regent, which was won by Candidate Pair (Paslon) Number 3 Paulina Haning Bullu and Stefanus M. Saek. This case was filed by Candidate Pair Number 1 Jonas Cornelius Lun and Adolfina Koa Mesakh, Candidate Pair Number 2 Nitanel Nunuhitu and Samuel Cony Pena, and Candidate Pair Number 4 Bima Theodrianus Fanggidae and Ernest S. Zadrak Pella. (ARS/LA/Yuniar Widiastuti)