Legal counsel Arsi Divinubun testifying at the preliminary hearing for Case No. 148/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2, Friday (1/10/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair 02 Hasbi Suaib-Martinus Mambraku believe that votes for Candidate Pair 01 Orideko Iriao Burdam-Mansyur Syahdan were gained through serious violations and fraudulent practices by violating the law. The allegations were revealed at the preliminary hearing for the 2024 Raja Ampat Regency election results dispute in the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday morning, January 13, 2025.

Before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani at the hearing for Case No. 148/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, the Petitioners’ legal counsel Arsi Davinbun stated that Candidate Pair 01 had committed a serious violation in the 2024 Raja Ampat Regency election in the form of mobilizing state civil apparatus (ASN)  to influence the vote acquisition. It is proven with by a WhatsApp group called BOM 27, which was created to secure the win for Candidate Pair 01.

Moreover, the Petitioners believe that this civil apparatus mobilization was directly led by the Raja Ampat Regency secretary. They proved their claim with evidence showing the secretary’s involvement in creating the WhatsApp group BOM 27 as well as his voice recordings containing messages of encouragement, instructions, and directives addressed to ASN members of the WhatsApp group associated with the campaign team of Candidate Pair 01.

“State civil apparatus who joined the WhatsApp group campaign team created by Raja Ampat secretary Yusuf Salim have actively communicated and carried out activities as the campaign team to secure the win for Candidate Pair 01,” said Arsi Davinubun.

The Petitioners strengthened their argument regarding the non-neutrality among ASN in the 2024 Raja Ampat Regency election with evidence, including a letter issued by Raja Ampat regent No. 800.1.8/307/SETDA dated December 4, 2024, regarding a recommendation for the dismissal of the Raja Ampat secretary. Furthermore, the Petitioners presented additional proof of ASN’s partiality through an apology video made by the secretary. In the video, the secretary admitted to actively inviting, appealing to, and encouraging ASN members, as well as providing guidance and instructions to those involved in the campaign team of Candidate Pair 01 via voice notes sent to the WhatsApp group.

“The apology video is a form of confession over the violation committed and it proves that the petition is valid,” Arsi stated.

Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court to order the Raja Ampat Regency KPU (Elections Commission) to carry out a revote in 24 districts in Raja Ampat Regency: North Misool, North Waigeo, South Waigeo, North Salawati, Ayau, East Misool, West Waigeo, East Waigeo, Teluk Mayalibit, Kofiau, Meosmansar, South Misool, Wawarbomi, West Waigeo Islands, West Misool, Sembilan Islands, Kota Waisai, Tiplol Mayalibit, North Batanta, West Salawati, Central Salawati, Supnin, Ayau Islands, and South Batanta.

The petition for Case No. 148/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author         : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor          : N. Rosi
Translators   : Syifa Amelia/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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