Bill Suit With Picture Of Risma Rejected By Surabaya District Court, Machfud Arifin Sentenced To Pay A 'fine'

Billboards depicting Tri Rismaharini (Risma) questioned by Machfud Arifin during the Surabaya Pilkada (IST)

SURABAYA - The Surabaya District Court (PN) rejected the suit of candidate pair Machfud Arifin and Mujiaman against the KPU, regarding the campaign props (APK) with Tri Rismaharini's picture. Arifin's Machfud lawsuit numbered 1068 / Pdt.G / 2020 / PN.Sby. which was registered on November 4, 2020, was rejected by the Surabaya District Court.

"Stating the Plaintiffs 'lawsuit Number: 1068 / Pdt.G / 2020 / PN.Sby. Aborted / crossed out of the register. Ordered the Clerk of the Surabaya District Court to remove the Plaintiffs' lawsuit from the ongoing civil case register," read the verdict from the PN. Surabaya, quoted from the Case Tracking Information System (SIPP) page, Saturday, 19 December.

In addition, the Surabaya District Court sentenced the plaintiffs, namely Machfud Arifin and Mujiaman, to pay the court fees for the matter.

"To punish the Plaintiffs to pay court fees incurred, which until this determination was pronounced amounted to Rp. 351,000," said the Surabaya District Court verdict on December 8.

Previously reported on November 4, 2020, through Sehid SH's attorney, Machfud-Mujiaman registered a lawsuit at the Surabaya District Court. The pair of candidates nominated by PKS and the Democratic Party questioned the appearance of Tri Rismaharini's photo on the campaign props of Eri Cahyadi and Armudji.

"Stating the materials and designs for the campaign props and campaign materials for the candidate pair for mayor and deputy mayor of Surabaya serial number 1 Eri Cahyadi - Armuji, which contains a picture of Surabaya mayor Tri Rismaharini, violates the law and democratic principles of election implementation," said Machfud-Mujiaman's lawsuit.

Before suing at the Surabaya District Court, Machfud-Mujiaman also sued the KPU regarding the matter to Bawaslu. After going through a series of trials, the Surabaya City Bawaslu has rejected the lawsuit.

KPU Surabaya commissioner, Agus Turcham also said, from the Case Tracing Information System (SIPP) report at the Surabaya District Court, the lawsuit was indeed dropped.

According to him, according to PKPU regulations, there is no problem with installing pictures of officials, such as Risma, as long as these officials are still active as party cadres. "If asked about violating or not posting photos of officials? That is the domaim of Bawaslu. Therapy, PKPU rules are still allowed as long as the official is still active as a party member or cadre," said Agus.

Meanwhile, Tomuan Sugiarto from the Legal Aid and Advocacy Body of the PDIP Surabaya DPC said, from the start, Machfud-Mujiaman had indeed questioned Risma's image.

"When discussing the APK design at the Surabaya KPU, they had argued. Then brought it to the East Java KPU. Not satisfied to be brought to the Indonesian KPU and the Indonesian KPU has provided an explanation of not breaking the rules and allowing the picture of Mrs. Risma on the APK. to Bawaslu, and then also rejected by Bawaslu, "said Tomuan.

According to him, about APK, there are already rules in PKPU (KPU Regulation), namely in Article 24 paragraph (3) and Article 29 paragraph (3) General Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) Number 4 of 2017 concerning the Election Campaign for Governors and Deputy Governors. , Regent and Deputy Regent and or Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

"The point is that it does not violate the rules if a photo of an official is posted on the APK as long as the party manager is concerned. We know that Mrs. Risma is a party administrator, namely the Chair of the PDI Perjuangan DPP in the Cultural Sector," he said.