Legal counsel Kurniadi Aris testifying in the preliminary hearing for Case No. 71/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 concerning Sungai Penuh City mayoral election results dispute on panel 2, Thursday (1/9/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The preliminary hearing for Case No. 71/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 Sungai Penuh City mayoral election results dispute was held on January, 9, 2025 in panel 2 courtroom. Candidate Pair 02 Ahmadi Zubir-Ferry Satria (the Petitioners) stated three structured, systematic, and massive violations were committed by Candidate Pair 01 Alfin-Azhar. Such violations were in the form of non-neutrality of the state civil apparatus, racketeering, and the involvement of election organizers.

Non-neutrality of the state civil apparatus was committed by tearing down all billboards of candidate pair Zubir-Febry throughout Kumun Debai District, which was led by a civil servant. Racketeering was also committed by intimidating witnesses of candidate pair Zubir-Ferry at polling stations in Kumun Debai District.

"The method used, starting with asking the polling station witnesses of candidate pair 02 to agree that the remaining ballots will be partially marked for candidate pair 01, and the witnesses will receive monetary compensation. This means that if they agree to the remaining ballots being partially marked for candidate pair 01, they will be given money referring to how much the witnesses of candidate pair 02 want. However, if the offer is not approved by candidate pair 02’s witnesses, their safety and their families’ safety will be threatened," said Deka Putra when reading out the main petition.

The Petitioners also argue that the involvement of election organizers was committed by one of the Commissioner of Sungai Penuh City KPU organizers who posted his picture with Alfin’s wife on his Facebook account a day after the Sungai Penuh City KPU plenary meeting. The post’s written “la-la-la-la-la-la-la row the boat, to the blue lagoon of the heart”. Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court disqualify candidate pair Alfin-Azhar in the 2024 Sungai Penuh City mayoral election. (*)

Author: Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor: Lulu Anjarsari P
PR: Fauzan Febriyan
Translator: Syifa Amelia / FS (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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