The Petitioners’ legal counsel, Heru Widodo in the preliminary hearing of case No. 127/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Teluk Wondama Regent election results dispute. Photo by MKRI/Ifa

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Petitioners argue the hamlet heads were involved in the Case No. 127/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 Teluk Wondama regent-vice regent election results dispute. The regent-vice regent candidate pair 2 (Hendrik Syake Mambor and Andarias Kayukatui), filed the petition to the Court.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo, accompanied by Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah, presided over the preliminary hearing for this case in the Panel 1 courtroom on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

The Teluk Wondama General Election Commission (KPU) serves as the Respondent, while the candidate pair 1 (Elysa Auri-Anthonius A Marani) acts as the Relevant Party.

The Petitioners’ legal counsels, Heru Widodo and Handri Piter Poae stated that the hamlet heads in Ambumi (Kuri Wamesa district) openly endorsed the Relevant Party. The Petitioner confirmed that legal enforcement has addressed the incident and obtained permanent legal force.

“The Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) has reported [the incident] to Integrated Law Enforcement (Gakkumdu). It has gone through trial and sentencing, proving a criminal act that harmed a particular candidate pair during the campaign,” said Handri.

The Petitioners also argued that a similar incident occurred in Rasiei district, where Tandia hamlet had endorsed the Relevant Party and engaged in vote buying.

This violates the Article 71 paragraph (1) of Law No. 10 of 2016, and Article 62 of KPU Regulation No. 13 of 2024. Consequently, the Petitioners reported the incident to Teluk Wondama Regency Bawaslu.

Not only hamlet heads, the Petitioners also argued that civil apparatus (ASN) were involved as witnesses for the Relevant Party. “This ASN is identified as Chorneles Waromi, who was appointed as a witness by candidate pair 1 at the district level,” explained Handri.

The Petitioners also stated sitting hamlet government staff were appointed as witnesses at polling station 1 of Simiei hamlet (Kuri Wamesa district).

In relation to ASN, the Petitioners also argued the acting secretary of Teluk Wondama KPU allegedly has a family relation to the Relevant Party. The Petitioners claimed that several election events, including the preparation of public debate material, workshops on Sirekap application use, outreach, and others.

The Petitioners argued the Respondent committed procedural violations at polling stations leading to discrepancies between the number of voters who cast votes and valid/invalid votes at polling station 1 Wasior.

“The number of voters who vote must match the number of valid and invalid votes,” Handri emphasized.

In the petitum, the Petitioners request the Court to annul the Teluk Wondama Regency KPU on the certification of Teluk Wondama regent-vice regent election results and to disqualify the Relevant Party from the 2024 regent election.

In addition, the Petitioners wish the Court for a revote in polling stations 1-7 of Wasior Satu, 1 of Simei Hamlet, 1 of Ambumi Hamlet, 1 of Yerenusi Hamlet, and 1 of Tandia Ambumi , 1 of Yerenusi Hamlet, and 1 of Tandia Hamlet.
The petition for case No. 127/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author           : Ashri Fadilla

Editor            : N. Rosi
Translator      : Ryan Alfian/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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