On behalf of Bawaslu, Saaludin testifying in the examination hearing of case No. 224/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on regent election results dispute, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra accompanied by Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani in panel 2 courtroom, Wednesday (1/22/2025).

---

JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Mahakam Ulu Election Commission (KPU) refutes the argument of regent-vice regent candidate pair 2, Novita Bulan and Artya Fathra Marthin (the Petitioners), stating that the incumbent regent was involved in securing the win for candidate pair 3 Owena Mayang Shari and Stanislaus Liah (the Relevant Party). The Respondent delivered the response in the examination hearing of case No. 224/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in panel 2 courtroom with the agenda of hearing the Respondent’s response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body), and validation of the parties’ evidence.

The Respondent’s legal counsel Wahyudi Karsul stated that they never received Mahakam Ulu Regency Bawaslu recommendations or court decisions ordering the Respondent to disqualify or annul the status of a candidate pair in the 2024 Mahakam Ulu regent-vice election.

“Regarding the Petitioners’ argument requesting a disqualification of a candidate pair, hereby the Respondent expressly stated the disqualification or nullification of a candidate pair’s status can only be done by a court’s decision and/or Bawaslu recommendation,” stated Wahyudi.

Wahyudi also responded to the Petitioners’ argument on the chronological events of the Bawaslu report until pre-trial hearing, from which the Respondent argued had been resolved according to the Election Criminal Procedural Law. The election organizer had filed the case to the Integrated Law Enforcement (Gakkumdu), who investigated the case based on the chronological events in the petition and concluded it did not meet the criteria for a criminal violation.

Also read:

Mahakam Ulu Regent Under Spotlight in Election Dispute

Furthermore, on behalf of candidate pair 3 Owena Mayang Shari and Stanislaus Liah (the Relevant Party), Isnaldi denied the Petitioners’ argument that the incumbent regent was involved in securing the win for the Related Party through a workshop on August 22-31 in Yogyakarta. Isnaldi stated that the Petitioners’ argument is baseless, as the event was unrelated to the campaign and was held before the regent-vice regent candidates’ registration.

“Also, no attendance of candidates in the said event, including the Relevant Party,” added Isnaldi.

On behalf of Mahakam Ulu Regency Bawaslu, Saaludin testified that they never received any report, finding of violations, or disputes. Despite this, Mahakam Ulu Bawaslu conducted mitigation by issuing 2 advisories and 5 advisories from the district elections supervisory committee (Panwascam).

The petition for case No. 224/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author           : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi

Editor            : N. Rosi
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.

 

---