Siri's Marriage With PPS Members, Head Of KPU Dompu NTB Subject To DKPP Warning

The DKPP session reads the decision on the code of ethics for election organizers in Jakarta, Wednesday (10/8/2022). (ANTARA/HO-DKPP)

JAKARTA - The Election Organizing Honorary Council (DKPP) has imposed a warning sanction on the Head of the KPU, Dompu Arifudin, for marrying a member of the Voting Committee (PPS) for the 2020-2021 period.

"Impressing a warning sanction to Defendant Arifuddin as chairman and member of the Dompu Regency KPU since this decision was read out," said Assembly Chair Alfitra Salam when reading out the verdict in case Number 24-PKE-DKPP/VII/2022 reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 24.

Arifudin is a defendant in case Number 24-PKE-DKPP/VII/2022, which was reported by Didik Hermawan Luhulima. The verdict trial was held behind closed doors because it was related to allegations of immoral acts.

In consideration of the decision, DKPP assessed that Arifudin had violated the provisions of Article 90 paragraph (4) letter c of KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 4 of 2021, which stipulates a prohibition for election organizers to conduct unregistered marriages.

The main complaint of the case Number 24-PKE-DKPP/VII/2022 itself indeed argues that Arifudin has had an inappropriate relationship outside of marriage with a woman, who is a PPS member in Dompu Regency for the 2020-2021 period.

In a closed examination hearing, Thursday (4/8), it was revealed that Arifudin had an unregistered marriage with a PPS member named Nurpati on February 5, 2021. The unregistered marriage was carried out when Arifudin was still Sri Hartati's legal husband.

Arifudin argued that his legal wife, Sri Hartati, suffered from a stroke that was difficult to cure, thus preventing her from carrying out her obligations as a wife.

Although Sri Hartati has obtained permission to practice polygamy, DKPP considers Arifudin to have ignored the provisions of Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.

The provisions of Article 2 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of the Marriage Law state that a marriage is declared valid if it is carried out according to the religious laws and beliefs of each party and recorded according to the applicable laws and regulations.

Article 3 paragraph (2) of the Marriage Law states that the court can give permission to a husband to marry more than one person if desired by the party concerned. Meanwhile, Article 4 paragraph (1) states that a husband who will have more than one wife is obliged to submit an application to the court according to his place of residence.

"This provision was ignored by the defendants through the act of carrying out a second marriage in a serial manner before a polygamy permit was issued by the religious court," said Assembly member Ida Budhiati.

Arifudin only submitted an application for polygamy to the Religious Court of Dompu Regency on January 26, 2022 or 11 months after his serial marriage with Nurpati, which was registered with Number 100/Pdt.G/2022/PA.Dp.

Arifudin's request for polygamy was granted by the Religious Court of Dompu Regency on April 4, 2022. Furthermore, Arifudin only registered his marriage with Nurpati with the KUA of Kempo District on April 18, 2022.

"Even though he has received permission to remarry from his first wife due to permanent health problems, DKPP assesses that the teradu as a state administrator should be an example for the community in maintaining the dignity of women, respecting, respecting the wife's permission, and carrying out a second marriage after obtaining permission from the religious court," he said. Ida Budhiati.