Legal counsels Mario Fredriek Ekel and Juliana Panjaitan at the preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 92/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Minahasa regent election results dispute, Tuesday (1/14/2025). Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Minahasa regent-vice regent candidates 01 Susi Fiane Sigar and Perly George Steven Pandeiroot have filed a petition to annul the Minahasa KPU (Elections Commission) Decree No. 2370 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 Minahasa regent election results dated December 4, 2024. They alleged an administrative violation by regent candidate 03 Robby Dondokambey, who had not resigned from his position as a member of the North Sulawesi DPRD (Legislative Council) for the 2024-2029 term.

The preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 92/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was presided over by Constitutional Justices Arief Hidayat (panel chair), Anwar Usman, and Enny Nurbaningsih on panel 3 on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. The main issue in the petition is that Robby Dondokambey had failed to submit his resignation from the North Sulawesi DPRD until the candidate pair was certified as candidates in the Minahasa regent election.

“Regarding the violation of Article 32 paragraphs (1) and (3) of KPU Regulation No. 8 of 2024, Robby Dondokambey did not submit a resignation letter and was even inaugurated as a member of the DPRD until the final deadline for submitting administrative requirements,” stated legal counsel Juliana Panjaitan in the panel 3 courtroom on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

This is in violation of Article 24 paragraph (1) of the KPU Regulation No. 8 of 2024 on the candidacy of governors and vice governors, regents and vice regents, and mayors and vice mayors. Article 24 paragraph (1) of KPU Regulation states, “Candidates who are members of the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) as referred to in Article 14 paragraph (2) letter q shall submit: a. an irrevocable resignation letter from their position as a member of the DPR, DPD, or DPRD; and b. a decree of dismissal on the resignation issued by the authorized official.”

“Robby Dondokambey, as vice regent of Minahasa, is now implicated in a criminal case, Your Honors. This case is currently being processed by the High Prosecution Office and is scheduled for hearing next Monday. It is suspected to have been orchestrated by the campaign team of candidate pair 03,” said Panjaitan.

Furthermore, the Petitioners questioned misuse of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) by candidate pair 03 Robby Dondokambey-Vanda Sarundajang (Relevant Party). This is because, during the campaign period, PIP fund recipients were encouraged to vote for candidate pair 03 in the Minahasa regent election.

“The PIP funds were labeled ‘PIP 2024 Advocated by Vanda Sarundajang,’” said Panjaitan.

In their petitums, the Petitioners requested the Court to disqualify Robby Dondokambey-Vanda Sarundajang from the election. “We request that the Minahasa Elections Commission be ordered to conduct a revote for the 2024 Minahasa regent and vice regent election within a maximum of 60 days since the Court’s decision, with only candidate pair 01 Susi Fiane Sigar-Perly George Steven Pandeiroot and candidate pair 02 Youla Lariwa-Denni Kalangi,” said legal counsel Mario Fredriek Ekel.

Author              : Nawir Arsyad Akbar
Editor                : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR                    : Tiara Agustina
Translators        : Nazila Rikhusshuba/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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