Agi-Saja Denies Vote-Buying Allegations in North Barito Revote

Ahmad Handoko, legal counsel for North Barito Regent and Vice Regent candidates Akhmad Gunadi Nadalsyah–Sastra Jaya (Agi–Saja), attends as Related Party. Photo by MKRI/Fauzan.

JAKARTA, (MKRI) – Allegations of vote-buying, as stated by the North Barito Regency Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), were reported on Friday, March 14, 2025, at approximately 09:30 AM local time, at a residence on Jl. Simpang Pramuka II, Melayu Village, Teweh Tengah District, North Barito Regency. The alleged perpetrators were Muhammad Al Ghazali Rahman, Tajjalli Rachman Barson a.k.a. Jali, and Widiana Tri Wibowo. These allegations have been handled by the North Barito District Gakkumdu Team. This was conveyed by Ahmad Handoko, legal counsel for Candidate Pair Number 2 for Regent and Vice Regent of North Barito Regency, Akhmad Gunadi Nadalsyah and Sastra Jaya (Agi-Saja), in response to the accusations of vote-buying allegedly involving their party.

Furthermore, the case has progressed to the investigation stage by the Police, and the Muara Teweh District Court has issued a ruling in Case Number 39/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Mtw dated April 21, 2025. However, the verdict is not yet legally binding, as the defendants have filed an appeal with the Palangkaraya High Court.

"However, there is no connection between the election crime case and Candidate Pair Number 02, as reflected in the panel of judges’ considerations, which found no evidence of any instructions from Candidate Pair Number 02 for Regent and Deputy Regent of North Barito Regency, Akhmad Gunadi Nadalsyah and Sastra Jaya. Furthermore, in the decision a quo, the money distributed was not sourced from Candidate Pair 02. Therefore, the Petitioner's argument lacks legal grounds," explained Ahmad Handoko in response to the claims raised in the petition for the 2024 North Barito Regent Election Results Dispute (PHPU), filed by Candidate Pair Number 01, Gogo Purman Jaya and Hendro Nakalelo (Petitioner).

No Authority

Meanwhile, regarding the allegation of vote-buying that occurred during the revote held on March 22, 2025, at Polling Station 01 in Melayu Village, Teweh Tengah Subdistrict, and Polling Station 04 in Malawaken Village, Teweh Baru Subdistrict, North Barito Regency, the North Barito Regency Elections Commission (Respondent) stated that it does not have the authority to respond to or explain the matter.

"This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Central Kalimantan Provincial Bawaslu and/or the North Barito Regency Bawaslu as the authorized institutions to provide information and clarification. Therefore, with regard to the aforementioned argument, since it bears no relevance to the conduct of the revote, the Respondent will not provide any further response," explained Irvan Yudha Oktara, legal representative of the North Barito Regency Elections Commission.

Also read:

Alleged Vote Buying in North Barito Re-Vote with Up to 16 Million per Voter

For information, during the Preliminary Hearing of Case Number 313/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on Friday, April 25, 2025, the Petitioner alleged that Candidate Pair Number 02 for Regent and Deputy Regent of North Barito Regency, Akhmad Gunadi Nadalsyah and Sastra Jaya, had committed structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) electoral fraud by distributing money amounting to IDR 16 million per person (voter). The alleged fraud took place during the re-voting process following Constitutional Court Decision Number 28/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, which was conducted on March 22, 2025, at Polling Station 01 in Melayu Village, Teweh Tengah District, and Polling Station 04 in Malawaken Village, Teweh Baru District, North Barito Regency.

During the hearing, it was revealed that the criminal act of money politics was substantiated by an arrest raid conducted by a joint team from the Police, North Barito Regency Bawaslu, and the military forces on March 14, 2025, at the winning post house of Candidate Pair Number 02. Ali Nurdin testified that Candidate Pair 02 had distributed a total of IDR 16 million to voters, with the money being given in three stages: IDR 1 million on December 26, 2024; IDR 5 million on February 28, 2025; and IDR 10 million on March 14, 2025.

In addition, Ali Nurdin further explained that there were alternative methods for those who had not received money on December 26, 2024, and February 28, 2025. These individuals were given a first phase distribution of IDR 5 million in early March 2025, followed by another distribution before the revote of IDR 10 million. Additionally, a one-time gift of IDR 15 million per person was given just before the revote, and, shortly before the revote, an overall total of IDR 25 million was distributed to each voter.

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Agi-Saja Denies Vote-Buying Allegations in North Barito Revote