The Respondent’s legal counsel Arman (middle) in the examination hearing for Case No. 35/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the North Toraja Regency election results dispute, Tuesday (1/21) in the panel 3 courtroom. Photo by MKRI/Bayu

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Respondent, the North Toraja Regency KPU (Elections Commission), represented by legal counsel Arman emphasized that the Petitioners’ argument was not directed at the Respondent but rather at Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body) and the Relevant Party, as outlined in the Case No. 35/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025. It was stated in the examination hearing to hear the Respondent's response, the testimony from the Relevant Party, Bawaslu, and the approving parties' evidence on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The petition was filed by Candidate Pair 01 Yohanis Bassang–Marthen Rante Tondok, while Candidate Pair o2 Frederik Victor Palimbong–Andrew Branch Silambi became the Relevant Party.

Arman further explained that based on Article 156 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Law No. 10 of 2016, in conjunction with Article 2 of Court Regulation No. 3 of 2024 regarding Procedures in Election Result Disputes for Governors, Regents, and Mayors, which states that "disputes over election results are disputes between the Provincial KPU and/or Regency/City KPU and election participants regarding the certification of vote acquisition from the election results," the misuse of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) is not within the Court's authority to oversee, as argued in the Petitioners’ petition.

"Regarding the main points of the petition from page eight to page 21, all of them have nothing to do with the Respondent, but are entirely related to the Relevant Party," said Arman before Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Anwar Usman and Enny Nurbaningsih on Panel 3.

Meanwhile, the Head of North Toraja Regency Bawaslu, Brikken Linde Bontang stated that there were no reports related to election disputes, despite 13 reports regarding alleged misuse of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP).

“All reports mentioned were delivered after the North Toraja regency-level vote recapitulation stage was done,” Erik revealed.

Furthermore, he emphasized that all of these reports could not be registered, citing failure to meet the formal requirements, as they had passed the deadline for submission, which was seven days after the alleged violation was discovered.

The Relevant Party Allege The Petitioners Committed Fraud

On behalf of the Relevant Party (Federik–Andrew), legal counsel Abner Buntang denied the allegations of PIP misuse, calling them false. "We can prove it with the witness's statement," he said. 

Regarding the Petitioners’ argument on the misuse of PIP in 10 districts in North Toraja Regency, the Relevant Party stated that it is unsubstantiated and based on unlawful evidence. They believe that the Petitioners’ argument is not credible because it relies on assumptions rather than clear calculations.

On the contrary, the Relevant Party suspects that the Petitioners have committed violations and fraud, citing the Petitioners’ position as the incumbent. The alleged violations include the Petitioners appointing, assigning, and transferring 147 officials in the North Toraja government. "The Decree was canceled, and then seven new Decrees were issued regarding the shift. It was canceled on March 28, 2024," Abner explained. Another alleged violation is the mobilization of State Civil Apparatus who encouraged people to vote for candidate pair 01.

Candidate Pair 01 Yohanis Bassang-Marthen Rante Tondok filed a petition concerning the 2024 North Toraja Regency election results dispute to the Court. In case No. 35/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, the Petitioners alleged a structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violation was committed to secure the win for Candidate Pair 02 Frederik V. Palimbong-Andre Branch Silambi (Relevant Party).

The Petitioners allege that Eva Stevany Ra Taba, a Member of the House of Representatives from the National Democratic Party and the chairperson of the campaign team for Candidate Pair 02, played a critical role in securing their electoral victory. Eva is accused of mobilizing school principals at the elementary, high school, and vocational school levels in North Toraja Regency to influence students’ guardians and parents to vote for Candidate Pair 02. During the campaign, parents were reportedly promised an extension of their children’s Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) activation. Conversely, they were allegedly warned that failing to vote for Candidate Pair 02 would result in their children being excluded from financial aid for education.

Author: Utami Argawati
Editor: Fitri Yuliana
PR: Tiara Agustina

Translator: Syifa Amelia/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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