The Respondent’s legal counsel Hifdzil Alim testifying in the examination hearing of case No. 172/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on regent election results dispute, chaired by Chief Justice Saldi Isra accompanied by Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani, in panel 2 courtroom, Wednesday (1/22/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

---

JAKARTA (MKRI) — Raja Ampat Election Commission (KPU) as the Respondent denied allegations by the candidate pair 5 Ria Siti Naruliah Umlati and Benoni Saleo (the Petitioners), that the Respondent was orchestrated by the incumbent regent candidate pair 1 (the Relevant Party).

The Respondent’s legal counsel, Hifdzil Alim delivered the above statement in the examination hearing of case No. 172/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025. The hearing included the Respondent’s response, testimonies by the Relevant Party and Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and validation of evidence. Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra presided over the hearing, accompanied by Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani in panel 2 courtroom on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Also read

Ria-Benoni Allege Regional Secretary's Involvement in Raja Ampat Regent Election

Citing Civil Servants Mobilization, Hasbi-Martinus Challenge Raja Ampat Election

Professionalism of Raja Ampat Election Officers Called into Question

Hifdzil testified that the Petitioners’ accusations were based on a voice note from a WhatsApp Group named “BOM 27”, allegedly from the Raja Ampat KPU head. While the Petitioners accused the Respondent of shielding and ignoring all violations committed by the Relevant Party, they failed to provide specific details on these alleged violations or where they occurred.

Similarly, on behalf of the Relevant Party, A. Muhammad Asrun added that the Petitioners only focused on the WhatsApp group as the main topic in the regent election dispute, despite it having no relation with the Related Party.

“This petition did not specify the violations and so on. So, it is merely a WhatsApp group without any strength of evidence,” stated Asrun.

As such, in their petitums, both the Respondent and the Relevant Party requested the Court to reject the Petitioners’ petition in its entirety and declare the validity of the Respondent’s decree on the certification of the 2024 Raja Ampat regent-vice regent election results.

Additionally, on behalf of Raja Ampat Bawaslu, Irwan Rumbara testified that they never received any report or findings on the alleged violation before and after the voting, countering the Petitioners’ argument.

Read Also:

Petition for Case No. 172/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Respondent’s Response

Bawaslu’s Statement

The Relevant Party’s Statement

Author           : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi.

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.

 

---