Legal counsel Roy Jansen Siagian giving statements at the preliminary hearing for the 2024 regent election results dispute, Wednesday (1/8/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Regent-Deputy Regent Candidate Pair 1 Satika Simamora and Sarlandy Hutabarat argued that their rival Candidate Pair 2 Jonius Taripar Parsaoran Hutabarat and Deni Parlindungan Lumbantoruan had committed structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations. One of them, the Petitioners argued, is the involvement, partisanship, and impartiality of the acting regent Dimposma Sihombing, the regional secretary David Sipahutar, and the police in the North Tapanuli Regency.

“On November 27, 2024, acting regent Dimposma Sihombing banned and expelled the municipal police officers who were carrying out duties at TPS 2 Simorangkir Julu Village of Siatas Barita District,” said Roy Jansen Siagian, the legal counsel of the Petitioners of Case No. 114/PHPU. BUP-XXIII/2025 at the preliminary hearing of the 2024 regency election results dispute on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in the panel courtroom. The hearing was presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani.

The Petitioners alleged that Sihombing often included Hutabarat in a number of events or activities by the North Tapanuli Regency Government such as a mass gymnastics event in Tarutung City Park, high school soccer tournaments in North Tapanuli Regency, and fun walk. Sihombing also always included Hutabarat, then-prospective candidate running for the regent office, in the activities attended by the regional leadership communication forum (Forkopimda) in a way that signaled support and endorsement.

Furthermore, involvement, partisanship, and impartiality was also displayed by the acting regional secretary David Sipahutar, who mobilized state civil apparatus (ASN) and public officials of North Tapanuli to not monitor polling stations (TPS) on voting day. He was also said to have banned and sent home the municipal police officers from TPS 2 Simorangkir Julu Village of Siatas Barita District.

The Petitioners also argued the involvement, partisanship, and impartiality of police superintendent Ernis Sitinjak. From 2015 to 2016, the regent candidate Hutabarat served as head of subdivision of forensic laboratory of North Sumatra Police, under whom Sitinjak worked directly in the regional police forensic laboratory center. Sitinjak proposed the replacement of key officials in the police force with officers who supported Hutabarat.

There is also first police inspector Arifin Purba, who instructed the district heads to summon village heads four days after being appointed as head of the criminal investigation unit. In a summon disguised as an investigation of the village funds misappropriation, Arifin allegedly instructed the village heads to support regent candidate Hutabarat.

Another example is police commissioner adjutant Raymon Tampubolon, who called and summoned the village heads of Siatas Barita District to meet Hutabarat without being informed in advance. At the meeting, Hutabarat told them “If you can’t cooperate with JTP [his initial], then don’t support other candidates.” Some village heads were even openly involved by providing cash assistance to Tohom Hutabarat and Pardomoan Hutabarat, the pair’s campaign team members.

The Petitioners also suspected that the KPU (General Elections Commission) as the organizer had committed systematic violations by clearing the North Tapanuli vice regent Deni Parlindungan. There were discrepancies in names listed in his high school diploma and electronic ID card. However, no copy of the court’s determination of the change of name and year of birth was attached to his candidacy registration file.

On the other hand, Candidate Pair 1 had submitted various reports to North Tapanuli Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) about various alleged violations during the simultaneous election campaign in the regency. However, the Petitioners alleged that Bawaslu had not been objective, professional, or neutral in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

Thus, in their petitums, the Petitioners requested that the Court annul the North Tapanuli KPU Decree No. 2061 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 regent election results dated December 4, 2024. They also petitioned that the Court disqualify Candidate Pair 2 from the election and overturn their victory.

The petition for case No. 114/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author            : Mimi Kartika
Editor            : N. Rosi
Translators     : M. Hafidh Al Mukmin/Yuniar Widiastuti (RA)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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