The Respondent’s legal counsel Viktor Marpaung testifying at the examination hearing for the Tanah Datar regent election case No. 150/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Respondent’s response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and Bawaslu, Wednesday (1/22/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Batusangkar Court Decisions No. 105/Pid.Sus/2024Bsk (dated November 25, 2024) and No. 106/Pid.Sus/2024/Bsk (dated November 28, 2024) involving Mauliddia Siska and Afrizon, respectively, fall under the authority of the Elections Supervisory (Bawaslu), Integrated Law Enforcement (Gakkumdu), District Court, and High Court. Meanwhile, Tanah Datar Regency Bawaslu followed up on the campaign violations by Hendri Hadi Nurma (Tanah Datar Regency government civil apparatus) and Roby (hamlet head of North Jorong Kumango, Kumango Village, Sungai Tarab District).

The Tanah Datar Regency Elections Commission’s (KPU) legal counsel Viktor Marpaung delivered the statement at the examination hearing for case No. 150/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 Tanah Datar regent election dispute. The hearing included the Respondent’s (KPU) response, testimonies by the Relevant Party and Bawaslu. Chief Justice Suhartoyo presided over the hearing alongside Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah in panel 1 courtroom on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

In response to the petition filed by candidate pair 1 Richi Aprian and Donny Karsont, the Tanah Datar Regency KPU stated that court’s decisions on election violations only prove actions by individuals, rather than a structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violation by government staff causing a massive impact.

“The election criminal offense or offenders in said area and time had no effect on the election results, including at TPS 2 of Sungayang Village, where the Petitioners received 109 votes and candidate pair 2 obtained 108 votes. At TPS 2 of Lima Kaum Village, the Petitioners received 179 votes, while candidate pair 2 gained 85 votes. Therefore, the argument does not have significant and direct impact to the vote results. As such, the Petitioners’ argument is false, contains no facts, and is legally baseless. As such, it should be rejected and overruled,” explained Marpaung.

Social Assistance

On behalf of candidate pair 2 Eka Putra–Ahmad Fadly (Relevant Party), Muhajir stated that the free field plowing assistance has been a featured program of the Tanah Datar Regency government since 2022. Additionally, the provision of pickup trucks in Simabur Village is part of the facilities and infrastructure planned in the 2024 Tanah Datar regency regional budget.

The land gifted to Pandai Sikek Village was a donation from the regent government to the village as stated in the regional grant agreement and minutes of transfer, which is in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs Regulation No. 19 of 2016 on the Guidelines for the Management of Regional Property as well as Tanah Datar Regency Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2021 on Guidelines for the Management of Regional Property.

Reports to Bawaslu

On behalf of the Tanah Datar Bawaslu, Andre Azki stated out of 18 reports that they had received, 4 were proven to be election violations. Additionally, 4 reports were sent to the West Sumatra Bawaslu.

“Four reports were proven as election violations, some of which were followed up by the police and National Civil Service Agency. Also, 2 reports were classified as election criminal offences, for which recommendations have been issued and followed up by the respective authorities,” Andre reported.

Also read: Indications of Favoritism Brought Up in Tanah Datar Regent Election

At the preliminary hearing on January 10, 2025, the Petitioners requested the annulment of the Tanah Datar Regency KPU Decree No. 784 of 2024 on the certification of the 2024 regent election results. The Petitioners stated that candidate pair 1 (Petitioners) acquired 77,595 votes, while candidate pair 2 (Eka Putra-Ahmad Fadly) received 85,692 votes, totaling 163,287 legitimate votes. The Petitioners alleged their rival of distributing live chicken to voters on the election night and free field plowing service—supposedly a program of the regency government— during the election silence.

The Petitioners argued that the Respondent favored candidate pair 2, by being unprofessional in the 2024 public debate for the election candidates. They also complained about the Respondent’s underperformance in disseminating the regent election process, their inaction regarding civil defense officer attributes resembling those of candidate pair 2, and the witness intimidation at polling stations 4, 10, and 24 in Tanjung Bonai village and polling stations in Lintau Buo Utara District.

 

Also read:

Petition for Case No. 150/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

The Respondent’s response

The Relevant Party’s statement

Bawaslu’s statement

 

Author               : Sri Pujianti
Editor                : N. Rosi
Translator         : Ryan Alfian/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL) (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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