The Respondent’s legal counsel Aulia Nugraha Sutra Ashary (second from the left) testifying at the examination hearing for Case No. 182/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Poso regent election results dispute, Friday (1/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Bayu.

---

JAKARTA (MKRI) — The Poso KPU (Elections Commission), as the Respondent, delivered a response to the petition’s arguments of a violation of the reshuffle of state civil apparatus (ASN) by incumbent regent candidate 03 Verna Gladies Merry Inkiriwang. Poso regent-vice regent candidates 01 Darmin Agustinus Sigiulipu-Samsinar Z Moga (Petitioners) argued that the reshuffle had occurred six months before the determination of candidate pairs, thus violating Article 71 paragraph (2) of the Regional Head Election Law.

The statement was conveyed by the Respondent’s legal counsel Aulia Nugraha Sutra Ashary at an examination hearing to hear testimonies from the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body), as well as to validate evidence for Case No. 182/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025. The hearing was presided over by Constitutional Justices Arief Hidayat (chair), Anwar Usman, and Enny Nurbaningsih on panel 3 on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Aulia explained that the Poso KPU had received public feedback on the ASN reshuffle by Verna Gladies Merry Inkiriwang. In response, the KPU directly clarified with the regional secretary of the Poso Regency Government on September 20, 2024. The regional secretary further submitted four documents related to the reshuffle. These documents were also presented as evidence by the Respondent in Case No. 182/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

“The regional secretary explained to the Respondent and the Poso Bawaslu that, in essence, the inauguration had received approval from the Minister of Home Affairs,” said Aulia in the plenary courtroom.

Relevant Party Refutes Claim of Authority Abuse

Furthermore, Candidate Pair 03 Verna Gladies Merry Inkiriwang-Soeharto Kandar (Relevant Party), through their legal counsel Muhadjrin Ladide, denied the alleged violation of the ASN reshuffle by the incumbent regent candidate. He emphasized that the reshuffle had not violated Article 71 paragraph (2) of the Regional Election Law.

“The alleged violation of Article 71 paragraph (2) is not true, as it is merely part of a routine reshuffle,” he said.

Muhadjrin also denied the allegation of misappropriation of the elementary school (SD) and junior high school (SMP) uniform distribution program throughout Poso Regency to benefit the Relevant Party. He clarified that the program had been planned in the regional medium-term development plan (RPJMD) and approved in Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 4 of 2021.

“The Petitioners’ argument regarding the violation of Article 73,\ paragraph (1) is merely an assumption that cannot be proven and falls within the authority of other institutions. The facts presented are not considered to constitute a violation, nor is there a legal subject or individual identified as having received a promised material reward from the Relevant Party,” said Muhadjrin.

On August 22, 2024, the Poso Bawaslu received a report regarding the ASN reshuffle, which was handled and discussed by Gakkumdu (Integrated Law Enforcement). However, the case was not pursued further as it did not meet the formal requirements.

“The Poso Bawaslu issued a report status notification on November 7, 2024, which essentially stated that the report would not be pursued as it did not meet the formal and material requirements,” said Poso Bawaslu member Irfan Hardianto W. Tadene.

Also read: Civil State Apparatus Rotations by Poso Regent Incumbent Under Scrutiny

At the previous hearing, the Petitioners (Candidate Pair 01) argued that the incumbent had carried out the inauguration and rotation of ASN officials within the Poso Regency Government. This process involved the inauguration and transfer of 75 administrative officials, functional officials, and heads of educational units within the government.

The incumbent regent candidate was also accused of having used the Poso Regency government program for personal benefit. This includes the alleged misuse through the distribution of elementary school (SD) and junior high school (SMP) uniforms throughout the regency.

In their petitums, the Petitioners requested the Court to annul the Poso Regency KPU Decree No. 3802 on the certification of the 2024 Poso regent election vote count recapitulation dated December 6, 2024; to disqualify Verna Gladies Merry Inkiriwang-Soeharto Kandar as candidate pair in the election; and to certify Darmin Agustinus Sigiulipu and Samsinar Z. Moga (Petitioners) as the elected pair with 38,074 votes.

Author              : Nawir Arsyad Akbar
Editor                : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR                    : Tiara Agustina
Translator         : Nazila Rikhusshuba/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.

---