The Relevant Party’s legal counsel Denny Indrayana testifying at the examination hearing for Case No. 198/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the regent election results dispute before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justice Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2, Friday (1/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The West Halmahera Regency Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) announced that the report on alleged vote-buying violations in the 2024 West Halmahera regent election had been discontinued due to a lack of sufficient evidence. It was stated at the examination hearing presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2 to hear the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu for Case No. 198/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Friday, January 24, 2025.

“The findings were discontinued due to insufficient evidence,” said member of West Halmahera Bawaslu Helni Rosiana Amo.

Amo explained that there were findings of alleged violations involving the distribution of money to influence voters during the election silence in Acango Village on November 26, 2024. In response, the West Halmahera Bawaslu forwarded them to Gakkumdu (Integrated Law Enforcement) due to the potential election law violations. On November 30, 2024, the Center agreed to continue the investigation with the West Halmahera Police. Yet, the forensic laboratory results from the confiscated cellphone evidence, along with witness statements and other evidence, revealed no indication of money politics violations.

Therefore, the Police discontinued the investigation due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Both the West Halmahera Prosecution and West Halmahera Bawaslu concurred with the decision to terminate the investigation, in line with the forensic laboratory test results, and requested a termination warrant.

Meanwhile, Candidate Pair 03 Yames Uang-Djufri Muhamad, as the Relevant Party, stated that in addition to the alleged vote-buying violations, which were deemed unsupported by evidence, the Petitioners also accused a large-scale sting operation (OTT) involving political money. Yet, after reviewing the evidence provided, they found that it did not demonstrate any operation against the campaign team of candidate pair 3. The evidence merely showed money being collected at the Gakkumdu Center, without any further clarification.

“The evidence provided consists of photos and videos without identification, making it impossible to recognize them as evidence of money politics involving the Relevant Party,” stated Denny Indrayana, the Relevant Party’s legal counsel.

Besides, the West Halmahera Regency KPU (Elections Commission) as Respondent stated that the Petitioners’ argument of involvement by 173 village heads, village officials, and the village consultative body (BPD) in supporting candidate pair 3 was unfounded and vague, citing failure to provide specific details, such as the villages names or the village heads. Thus, the Respondent argued that the allegations of structured, systematic, and massive violations could not be substantiated.

“The Respondent argued that the Petitioners’ argument regarding the structured, systematic, and massive violations is legally groundless and should be rejected,” said Akhmad Jazuli, the Respondent’s legal counsel.

Also read: Vote-Buying Allegations in West Halmahera Regent Election

Based on the certification of the vote count results by the West Halmahera KPU as the Respondent, Candidate Pair 1 Juliche Dolfina Baura-Bustami Albaar won 7,736 votes, Candidate Pair 2 Danny Missy-Iksan Husain won 18,147 votes, Candidate Pair 3 Yames Uang-Djufri Muhamad won 28,781 votes, and Candidate Pair 4 Iskandar Idrus-Lusiany Inggilina Damar won 13,367 votes. The Petitioners requested that the Court annul the West Halmahera KPU Decree on the certification of the acquisition; and declare Candidate Pair 03 Yames Uang-Djufri Muhamad invalid as a candidate pair as they violating Article 1 Point 18 of the KPU Decree concerning the nomination of regional head elections; and order the Respondent to conduct a revote at all TPS in West Halmahera Regency.

Also read:

The Petition for Case No. 198/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025
Response by the Respondent
Statement by Bawaslu
Statement by the Relevant Party

Author              : Mimi Kartika
Editor               : N. Rosi
Translator         : Syifa Amelia/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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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