Deputy Justice Saldi Isra accompanied by Constitutional Justice in the hearing of Case No. 20/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 concerning the 2024 Pesawaran regent election results dispute, Monday (2/17/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh

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JAKARTA, MKRI—The controversy surrounding the absence of Aries Sandi Putra's diploma, a regent candidate, became a focal point in the evidentiary hearing on the 2024 Pesawaran regent election results dispute. The hearing, which included witness and expert testimony as well as the examination and validation of additional evidence, was held as part of the evidentiary process for Case No. 20/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025. The session took place in the Panel 2 Courtroom on Monday, February 17, 2025, and was presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra, accompanied by Constitutional Justices Arsul Sani and Ridwan Mansyur.

In this hearing, Candidate Number 2 Nanda Indira B and Antonius Muhammad Ali (the Petitioners) presented Thomas Amirico the Head of the Lampung Provincial Education and Culture Office as a witness. Thomas said that there was no data regarding Aries Sandi Darma Putra's participation in the GED exam in 1995.  

“I have formed a team decree, there is no data sir. In the school and then in our archives, we dismantled everything, no data was found,” Thomas stated.

Differences between Package C and the GED

Thomas also explained the difference between Package C (National Senior High School Equivalency) and the GED exam, the equation exam was conducted before the Community Learning Activity Centre (PKBM) existed, which was organized before 2000. Paket C was organized by PKBM after the year 2000.

The requirements to take the Paket C exams are as follows: be registered in the Permanent Nomination List (DNT) of Examinees, participate in the teaching and learning process by PKBM, have a junior high school certificate, and a high school report card.

“[the education in] grade 3 must also be taken, [the education in] semester 1 and semester 2,” stated Thomas when asked by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra about the high school report card as a condition for taking the package C exam.

To take the GED exam, candidates must follow the school process. However, if an individual is unable to take the national exams due to illness or other valid reasons, they must either sit for the next scheduled exam in the following year or take an equivalent exam designated by the government. "The exam requirements must still be fulfilled, even if the candidate was unable to take the previous exam due to illness or other circumstances," Thomas replied.

 Administrative and Factual Verification

The Pesawaran Regency KPU (the Respondent) responds regarding Aries’s absence of a diploma. The Respondent only conducts administrative verification if there are special matters or doubts. The verification was also conducted together with Bawaslu.

“We have not been able to verify [the issue] if there is no input and response from the community or the Bawaslu,” stated Fery Ikhsan the Chairman of the Pesawaran Regency KPU.

Fery explained that when Aries ran for office in 2010, 2015, and 2019, the Pesawaran Regency KPU found no issue. But when Aries registered for the 2024 Pesawaran regent election, the issue arose during the campaign stage. To resolve the issue, the Respondent and Bawaslu then conducted a factual verification regarding the alleged invalid diploma to the Education Office.

"That was done together with Bawaslu, and we also met with Mr. Zulfakar at that time. The outcome of the verification was a certificate from the Education Office confirming its validity," said Fery.

Author          : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor           : Lulu Anjarsari P.
PR               : Fauzan Febriyan
Translator : Dinita Aktivia/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.

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