Ondihon Itomi (legal counsel) testifying in the preliminary hearing for Case No. 255/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justice Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on Panel 2, Wednesday (1/15/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair 02 Yakob Weremba–Suharto withdrew the petition for Case No. 255/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 Boven Digoel Regency election results dispute. It was stated by legal counsel Ondihon Itomi Heppi Sitompu in the preliminary hearing in the Panel 2 courtroom on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

“Based on the principal’s request, both written and verbal, we are here to withdraw the regional election dispute case No. 255," stated Itomi before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justice Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on Panel 2.

Previously, the Petitioners filed an objection regarding the certification of the vote count results by the Boven Digoel Regency KPU (election commission) (the Respondent), citing the failure to thoroughly review the data and documents submitted by candidate pair 03 during the registration process. They argued that the Respondent should not have accepted the candidacy of candidate pair 03, as the regent candidate had committed the crime of desertion during peacetime.

The Petitioners stated that the information regarding the crime was derived from the Surabaya III High Military Court Decision No. PUT/06-K/PMT.III/BDG/ADV/2005. This decision found that regent candidate 03 was guilty of desertion during peacetime, resulting in the dismissal from military service. Additionally, he did not publicly disclose his status as a former convict.

Furthermore, the Petitioners believed that candidate pair 03 deliberately concealed this information to prevent the public from easily discovering it. This conclusion became more evident as the Petitioners conducted a thorough investigation within the bounds of the law, seeking to uncover the truth of the matter themselves.

Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court to disqualify Candidate Pair 03, Petrus Ricolombus Omba–Marlinus, and to order the Respondent to conduct a revote within 90 days from the date of the decision.

Also read: Hengki-Melkior: Boven Digoel Elections Commission Covered Up Convict Status

Author: Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi.
Editor: N. Rosi.
Translator: Syifa Amelia/Fuad Subhan (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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