Supriyadi Pengellu and Setli Arie Soleman Kohdong as the Petitioners’ legal counsel at the preliminary hearing for Case Number 118/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 disputing the South Minahasa regent election, Monday (1/13/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations in the form of distribution of social assistance are among the arguments in the petition disputing the South Minahasa regent election results filed by Candidate Pair Number 2 Petra Yani Rembang and Frede Aries Massie. The arguments for Case Number 118/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 were read out at the preliminary hearing on panel 1 on Monday, January 13, 2025, was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah.

In this case, the South Minahasa Regency KPU (Elections Commission) is the Respondent while Candidate Pair Number 1 Franky Donny Wongkar and Theodorus Kawatu are the Relevant Party.

The Petitioners, represented by legal counsels Supriyadi Pangellu and Setli Arie Soleman Kohdong, argued that social assistance in the form of staple foods and cash had been distributed by the Relevant Party in the 2024 South Minahasa regent election.

“There was misuse of social assistance by incumbent Franky Donny Wongkar and the involvement of ASN, village heads and their apparatus, which were disregarded by election organizers and South Minahasa Regency Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body),” Supriyadi stated.

In the petition, the Petitioners describe that the violations were carried out from March 22 to September 24, 2024 in 15 districts. The distribution was carried out in a structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) manner because it involved state civil apparatus (ASN) and village officials.

“In addition to the Respondent not prosecuting violations by the incumbent, the South Minahasa Regency Bawaslu also allowed them to happen,” he stated.

Therefore, in the petitums, the Petitioners asked the Court to cancel the South Minahasa KPU Decree Number 1571 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 South Minahasa regent election results. The Petitioners also requested a revote at 401 polling stations in South Minahasa Regency without including Candidate Pair Number 1. The Petitioners also requested the disqualification of the Relevant Party in the revote.

“[The Petitioners request that the Court Court] declare it has been proven legally and convincingly that the distribution of social assistance by incumbent regent Franky Donny Wongkar intended to elevate the image of Candidate Pair Number 1 was ground for disqualification,” stated legal counsel Setli Arie Soleman Kohdong.

The hearing will continue on Thursday, January 23, 2025 to hear the Respondent response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and South Minahasa Bawaslu. “As well as the ratification of evidence that will be filed later,” said Chief Justice Suhartoyo.

Also read the petition for Case Number 118/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

Author              : Ashri Fadilla.
Editor                : N. Rosi
Translators        : Dinita Aktivia/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL) (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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