Legal counsel Ruslan (center) at the preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 159/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Morowali regent election results dispute, Monday (1/13/2025). Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Morowali regent-vice regent candidates 01 Taslim and Asgar Ali raised allegations of serious violations committed by the Morowali Election Commission (KPU). This was conveyed by Ruslan, the Petitioners’ legal counsel, at the preliminary examination hearing of the 2024 Morowali regent election results dispute held by the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday, January 13, 2025.

In the hearing for Case No. 159/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, Ruslan stated that three Morowali KPU officials were suspected of receiving hundreds of millions of rupiah in cash from Candidate Pair 03 Iksan Baharuddin Abdul Rauf-Iriane Iliyas.

"According to our witnesses, the money was received from Candidate Pair 03 and subsequently handed over to the Morowali KPU at two separate locations," stated Ruslan.

This allegation was supported by the evidence presented, including the testimony of two witnesses and a statement letter included as evidence P-7. "Our argument is based on the evidence gathered, which includes the involvement of a commissioner, one official from the Secretariat, and a driver who facilitated the handover of the money at two separate locations. The two witnesses and the statement letter have been submitted as evidence P-7," he affirmed before panel 3 justices led by Justice Arief Hidayat.

Furthermore, Ruslan stated that violations were also identified in the district election committee (PPK) in six districts. PPK members are suspected of offering to cooperate to manipulate the Morowali regent election, with an estimated value of Rp3.16 billion. As a result, several PPK members, including those from the Bungku Tengah, Bungku Barat (two individuals), Bungku Timur, Bahodopi, and Bungku Pesisir districts, have been permanently dismissed by the Morowali Regency KPU. "The KPU conducted an internal monitoring process, and their involvement has been proven," Ruslan added.

The Petitioners also disclosed additional violations concerning voting in Labota Village. They stated that the ballots were marked outside the polling stations, specifically in a container located within the PT Tirta Jaya Bersaudara area. This allegation was supported by witnesses who testified to having directly experienced and witnessed the incident on voting day.

Additionally, allegations have arisen regarding the involvement of village officials in practical politics. The Village Head of Kolono is suspected of actively supporting the victory and campaign of Candidate Pair 03, which is deemed to violate Article 188 in conjunction with Article 71 paragraph (1) of the Regional Election Law. This case has been currently under investigation by the Morowali Gakkumdu Center, and according to Ruslan, the Morowali Regency District Attorney has confirmed that the criminal case file is complete. "Based on the information, a guilty verdict has been reached," he stated.

In their petitum, the Petitioners requested the Court to annul the Morowali KPU Decree No. 1020 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 Morowali regent election results, dated 6 October 2024. They also requested the Court to declare that candidate pair Iksan and Iriane Ilyas were proven legally and convincingly to have committed violations of the election in a structured, systematic and massive manner.

"[We request the Court to] disqualify the 2024 Morowali regent and vice regent candidates 03, namely Iksan Baharuddin Abdul Rauf and Iriane Iliyas, in the 2024 Morowali regent and vice regent election. [We also requested the Court to] order the Morowali KPU to issue a decree on the certification of Candidate Pair 01 Taslim and Asgar Ali K. as the elected regent and vice regent in the 2024 Morowali regional head election," stated Ruslan. (*)

Author  : Utami Argawati
Editor   : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR : Tiara Agustina
Translators     : Nazila Rikhusshuba / 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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