On behalf of Kerinci Regency Bawaslu, Doni Aria Saputra testifying in the examination hearing of case No. 126/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the regent election results dispute, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra accompanied by Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani in panel 2 courtroom, Tuesday (1/21/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Kerinci regent-vice regent candidate pair 3, Monadi and Murison (the Relevant Party), argued that the inauguration of Asraf as Acting Kerinci Regent was unrelated to the regional election or their election victory. They emphasized that the inauguration was within the governor's authority and took place in 2023.

The Relevant Party’s legal counsel Heru Widodo delivered the above statement in the hearing, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. This examination hearing for case No. 126/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was to hear the Respondent’s response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and validation of evidence from the parties. Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra chaired the hearing, accompanied by Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani in panel 1 courtroom.

The candidate pair 1 Darmadi and Darifus (the Petitioners) argued that the inauguration of Asraf as acting Kerinci regent was a structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violation in the 2024 Kerinci regent-vice regent election, considering Asraf’s inauguration was held at the end of office term of the previous Kerinci regent (2019-2024). Also, Asraf's track record includes a violation of civil apparatus neutrality during his tenure as head of the civil service police unit in 2013.

In response, Heru emphasized that the Petitioner’s reference to the 2013 election dispute violation had no relation to the 2024 Kerinci regent-vice regent election. The Petitioners also failed to provide specific evidence of these alleged violations in their petition, including details on where, when, how, and by whom these violations were committed by the acting regent, causing harm to the Petitioners and benefiting the Relevant Party.

“The allegation regarding Asraf’s inauguration caused controversy in 2013 when [he] served as the head of the civil service police unit and was proven to have violated the neutrality of the civil apparatus. However, this [incident] was in 2013 which has no relation to the violations 11 years later,” added Heru.

As such, the Relevant Party requested the Court to reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and declare the validity of the Respondent decree on the certification of the 2024 Kerinci regent-vice regent election result.

Similarly, the Respondent’s legal counsel, R Surya Nuswantoro denied the Petitioners’ argument that the Related Party’s votes were acquired by committing TSM violations. Surya stated that the Petitioners did not explain the violation and the location of the TSM violation.

“The Petitioners were unable to clearly outline the TSM violations, including the area, number of votes, intensity, and chronological events in the 2024 Kerinci regent-vice regent election,” stressed Surya.

Therefore, the Respondent also requested the Court to reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and declare the validity of the certification of the 2024 Kerinci regent-vice regent election result.

Also read:

Tafyani-Ezi Allege Civil Apparatus’ Support in Kerinci Regent Election

Furthermore, on behalf of Kerinci Regency Bawaslu, Doni Satria testified that while they received a report alleging election violation related to Asraf’s inauguration as acting Kerinci regent. However, Kerinci Bawaslu issued a notification of status report on December 12, 2024, determining that the report did not meet the criteria for an election violation.

The petition for case No. 126/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author           : Ahmad Sulthon Zaina

Editor            : Tiara Agustina
PR                 : Fauzan Febriyan
Translator      : Ryan Alfian/FS
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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