Jakarta, LiterasiHukum.com — The Constitutional Court (MK) stated that the petition for the Dispute over the Results of the General Election (PHPU) for the Regent of North Barito submitted by Candidate Pair Number 2, Jimmy Carter–Inriaty Karawaheni (Jimmy–Inri), was inadmissible. Decision Number 331/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 was read by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo at the Hearing for the Pronouncement of the PHPU Decision for the Regent of North Barito in 2024, Wednesday (17/9/2025).

Argument money politics unconvincing

The Petitioner argued the practice money politics to win Candidate Pair Number 1 through the distribution of money with various modes, including making voters as “volunteers” and distributing numbered volunteer cards, using recipient lists, to distributing money directly (on the spot).

Constitutional Justice M. Guntur Hamzah explained that the allegation had been handled by the North Barito Regency Bawaslu in its authority over administrative violations. Based on evidence from the parties and Bawaslu, the Constitutional Court found inconsistencies in several witness statements which actually raised doubts about the occurrence of the event money politics as argued by the Petitioner. The video evidence also did not clearly show the subject, time, and place of the incident or the clarity of the volunteer card in question.

The only series of events that was considered the clearest was the testimony of Witness Ernawati regarding the receipt of a volunteer card along with Rp300,000 from Volunteer Coordinator Number 1, Piki Rotama. However, the testimony of Witness Rusiani explained that the money was volunteer work compensation since July 2025, including for dialogical campaign activities on July 17, 2025, not to influence voter choice. This difference in testimony made the Constitutional Court not obtain confidence in the Petitioner's argument.