The ruling hearing for case No. 331/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 North Barito regent election results dispute, Wednesday (9/17/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.
JAKARTA (MKRI) — The dispute petition over the 2024 North Barito regent election results filed by candidate pair number 2 Jimmy Carter and Inriaty Karawaheni (Jimmy-Inri) was ruled inadmissible. The verdict for Decision No. 331/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was delivered by Chief Justice Suhartoyo at the ruling hearing on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
In their petition, the Petitioners alleged widespread money politics (vote buying) intended to secure the victory of candidate pair number 1 for regent and vice regent across all districts in North Barito Regency. They believed the candidate pair, their campaign team, volunteers, and several village coordinators had engaged in practices such as falsely designating voters as “volunteers” and issuing them numbered volunteer cards accompanied by cash, distributing money based on recipient lists, and handing out money directly to residents they encountered. The Petitioners argued that these acts of money politics had significantly affected their vote tally.
Addressing these allegations, Constitutional Justice M. Guntur Hamzah explained that the allegation of money politics had already been handled by the North Barito Regency Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Committee), which holds authority to adjudicate election administrative violations. Based on the evidence submitted by the Petitioners, the Respondent, Relevant Party, and Bawaslu, the Court found inconsistencies in witness statements—particularly in written declarations—which raised further doubts about the truth of the alleged money politics.
Compensation for Volunteer Work
The Court noted that the video evidence showing the distribution of money and volunteer cards by the campaign team for candidate pair number 1 failed to clearly establish the subjects, time, or location of the alleged events, nor did it provide clarity regarding the volunteer cards cited by the Petitioners as proof. The only credible sequence of events accepted by the Court was the testimony of witness Ernawati, who received a card and Rp300,000 from her husband, who in turn had received them from witness Piki Rotama, a volunteer coordinator for candidate pair number 1 in Mukut Village. Rotama possessed a list of 51 volunteers, 30 of whom directly received Rp300,000 each from him.
However, according to witness Rusiani, the money distributed to Rotama was compensation for volunteer work carried out since July 2025, not to influence voter choices. This included organizing a dialogue-based campaign event for candidate pair number 1 at Rotama’s residence on July 17, 2025. Thus, the Court held that the facts presented differed substantially from what could be classified as money politics proven to influence voters’ choices and affect vote outcomes. Moreover, no contrary evidence was presented to establish the essence of money politics, as had been the case in Decision No. 313/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 previously adjudicated by the Court.
“Accordingly, the Court finds no coherent sequence of events or corroborating evidence to substantiate the Petitioners’ claim of money politics. Moreover, the hearings revealed contradictions between the testimonies of Piki Rotama and Rusiani, leaving the Court in doubt as to their credibility. Therefore, the Court finds no basis to accept the Petitioners’ allegation,” Justice Guntur explained.
Need for Regulation on Volunteer Honoraria
Similarly, the Court was not persuaded by the Petitioners’ claim that money politics had been practiced to ensure the victory of candidate pair number 1 across all districts in North Barito Regency. Such actions could not be classified as money politics, since no regulation expressly prohibits or sets limits on the payment of honoraria to volunteers. Even if such payments had occurred, the Court found no convincing evidence that they influenced voter turnout or results.
“Nevertheless, going forward, such practices—if indeed they occur—must be regulated clearly and firmly, to ensure clean and fair local elections and safeguard the integrity of voters’ choices. For these reasons, the Court has no doubt in ruling that the Petitioners’ claims are legally unfounded,” Justice Guntur concluded in reading the Court’s legal considerations.
Distribution of C-Notification-KWK for Revote
On the issue of the distribution of C-notification-KWK forms for re-voting, the Court referred to the KPU (General Elections Commission) Decree No. 1774 of 2024 on technical guidelines for voting and vote counting in the election of governors, regents, and mayors. The decree requires polling station (TPS) committees, led by KPPS (polling station working committee) chairpersons, to deliver notification letters to all registered voters at least three days prior to voting day using the C-notification-KWK form.
“This decree also provides a mechanism for the return of undelivered C-notification-KWK forms, recorded through the recap return forms at the village level. In this respect, the Court finds that the North Barito Regency KPU acted in accordance with the prescribed return mechanism, duly recording the undelivered forms administratively,” said Constitutional Justice Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh, continuing to read out the Court’s legal considerations.
Voters Still Able to Exercise Their Rights
The Court emphasized that receipt of a C-notification-KWK form is not the sole requirement for voters to exercise their rights at polling stations. Voters who did not receive the form could still cast their ballots by presenting their electronic ID card (KTP) or other official identification.
Accordingly, Justice Foekh concluded, the Petitioners’ claim that the North Barito Regency KPU had failed to distribute the notification forms broadly and without justification—especially in areas where the Petitioners had strong support—was without legal basis.
“In its ruling, the Court grants the Respondent’s and Relevant Party’s objections regarding the Petitioners’ legal standing, while rejecting their other objections. On the merits, the Court declares the Petitioners’ case inadmissible,” Chief Justice Suhartoyo announced in delivering the Court’s judgment.
Also read:
Jimmy-Inri Reveal Violations in North Barito Election Revote
North Barito KPU Denies Allegation of Vote Buying
Politic Costs Discussed in North Barito Regent Election Dispute
At the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, September 2, Jimmy-Inri (Petitioners) through their legal counsel M. Imam Nasef petitioned for the annulment of the Decree of the North Barito Regency KPU No. 365 of 2025 on the certification of the results of the 2024 North Barito regent-vice-regent election in the revote following the Constitutional Court Decision on the dispute over election results No. 313/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, announced on August 9, 2025.
Based on the North Barito Regency KPU’s (Respondent) decree, candidate pair number 1 Shalahuddin–Felix Sonadie Y. Tingan (Relevant Party) obtained 40,400 votes, while the Petitioners obtained 36,989. The Petitioners alleged that the Relevant Party’s vote tally was achieved through structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations across nine districts in North Barito Regency. They also alleged that the Relevant Party had distributed money to voters under the guise of recruiting them as “volunteers,” who were then marked with serial-numbered volunteer cards. In addition, they accused the Relevant Party of distributing money using recipient lists and handing out cash to residents encountered on the spot.
Also read:
Court Orders Revote at Two Polling Stations in North Barito
Court Annuls North Barito Regent Election, Disqualifies Both Candidate Pairs
Author : Sri Pujianti
Editor : N. Rosi
PR : Fauzan F.
Translator : 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.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 13:31 WIB 217