The Respondent’s (KPU) legal counsel Satria Budhi Prama testifying at the examination hearing for Case No. 27/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025 on the Baubau mayoral election results dispute, Friday (1/24/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) — On July 14, 2024, the Baubau City Elections Commission (KPU) as the Respondent received a letter from prospective mayoral candidates Yulia Rahman and La Ode Muhammad Apriyadi, notifying them of the substitution of the prospective vice mayor candidate. A letter dated July 12, 2024, signed by a psychiatrist from the Kendari City Hospital, attached the mental health screening report of La Ode Muhammad Apriyadi, which showed symptoms of a mental disorder that could affect his daily life and declared him mentally unfit.

The Baubau City KPU’s (Respondent) legal counsel Satria Budhi Pramana delivered the statement at the examination hearing for the mayoral election results dispute Case No. 27/PHPU.WAKO-XXIII/2025. The hearing was set for the Respondent’s response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu). Chief Justice Suhartoyo presided over the hearing, accompanied by Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah in panel 1 courtroom on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Satria stated that upon receiving the letter, the Respondent held a plenary meeting to discuss the substitution of an independent Baubau vice mayor candidate. The Respondent consulted the matter, sent a letter on substitution of an independent vice mayor candidate to the Southeast Sulawesi KPU, confirmed with the prospective candidates, and informed the Baubau City Bawaslu.

On July 16, 2024, accompanied by Baubau City Bawaslu, the Respondent visited the Baubau City Hospital’s mental clinic to seek confirmation of the mental health screening  report. On September 22, 2024, the Respondent issued a decree No. 324 of 2024 amending Baubau City KPU decree No. 323 of 2024 on the announcement of the 2024 mayor-vice mayor candidate pair, stipulating candidate pair Yulia Rahman and Muhammad Ridwan as one of the mayor-vice mayor candidates.

“Based on that process, the substitution of an independent prospective vice mayor candidate from La Ode Muhammad Apriyadi to Muhammad Ridwan followed the provisions on candidate substitution as stipulated in Article 123 paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) jo. Article 126 paragraph (2), Article 128 paragraph (2) of the KPU Regulation on Candidate Nomination. As such, the Respondent’s decree stipulating the prospective independent candidate pair was not legally flawed, not against the Constitution, and not against the law,” explained Satria.

Independent Candidate Status

Candidate pair 3 Yusran Fahim–Wa Ode Hamsinah Bolu (Relevant Party) stated that the mental health screening report affirms that prospective vice mayor candidate pair 2 was mentally unfit, thus declared ineligible by the Respondent.

“The substitution was allowed as long as it followed the requirements, and the psychiatrist’s report met the prevailing regulations,” added Muhammad Nursal as the Relevant Party’s legal counsel.

Document Verification

Meanwhile, on behalf of Baubau City Bawaslu, Almin mentioned that they did not receive reports related to the Petitioners’ subject matter. Almin stated that Bawaslu conveyed advisories to the parties for organizing the election according to the stipulated provisions.

“On the health report verification as argued by the Petitioners, said report was signed at the direct request of the individual. With Baubau City Hospital, we also verified the document, making this violation allegation groundless,” explained Almin.

Also read: Baubau Vice Mayor Candidate Substitution Questioned

At the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Petitioners argued the substitution of the vice mayor candidate pair 2 had been conducted without the required public announcement as stipulated by Articles 125 and 126 of the KPU Regulation No. 8 of 2024. The Petitioners stated that the Respondent action was legally flawed, as this replacement involved fulfilling the B-1-KWK individual model form for independent candidate pair 2, Yulia Rahman-Muhammad Ridwan.

In their petitums, the Petitioners requested the Court to invalidate and annul the Baubau City KPU Decree No. 518 of 2024, dated December 3, 2024, regarding the certification of the 2024 Baubau mayoral election results. They also requested the certification of individual candidate pair 2 (Yulia Rahman–Muhammad Ridwan) be deemed invalid and unlawful. Lastly, they wished the Court to order the Baubau City KPU to re-verify vice mayor candidate 2 La Ode Muhammad Apriyadi.

 

Also read:

Petition for Case No. 273/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Respondent’s Response

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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