Bawaslu Expresses Acting Regent Bone Does Not Violate Election Rules Regarding Galang Support For Children Who Become Legislative Candidates

The media meeting held by Bawaslu Bone is related to alleged election violations by the Acting Regent of Bone A Islamuddin in Bone, Wednesday (3/01/2024). ANTARA/HO-Bawaslu Bone

The General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) of Bone Regency revealed the results of a search for alleged election violations by the Acting Regent Bone from a video garnering support for his son.

"The results of the search and information from related parties obtained by Bawaslu Bone show that there are no election violations in the case," said Head of Bawaslu Bone Alwi as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 3.

Bawaslu has followed up on alleged violations in the video of the Acting Regent of Bone garnering support for his son and has gone viral in the community since December 28, 2023 on several media social platforms.

From the video, Bawaslu Bone assessed that there is a potential for legal problems considering that the video of the Acting Regent of Bone went viral during the 2024 General Election campaign.

However, based on the results of the search and information from related parties, including A Islamuddin as the Regent of Bone, H Andi Muchlis (Camat Kahu), and several village heads on December 30, 2023 and January 1, 2024, it was concluded that there were no allegations of election violations.

Alwi explained in the video, Acting Regent Bone invited/socialized his son, who is a candidate for the South Sulawesi Provincial DPRD for the 7th Electoral District.

However, the Bone Regency Bawaslu assessed that the incident could not be categorized as a violation of the election on the legal grounds, namely that the campaign schedule had not yet started.

Based on KPU Regulation Number 3 of 2022 concerning the Stages and Schedule of the 2024 General Election, the new election campaign will start on November 28, 2023 to February 10, 2024. Meanwhile, the incident will take place on October 9, 2023, which has not yet entered the 2024 election campaign period.

In addition, the Acting Regent of Bone A Islamuddin based on the facts in the position, initial information and the results of the investigation related to the case that occurred, it was stated that it did not fulfill the elements of Article 282 in conjunction with 547 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2022 concerning amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections into Law.

Based on these considerations, Bawaslu Bone concluded that there were no allegations of election violations in the event as contained in the PJ video of the Regent of Bone which went viral on December 28, 2023.

However, the Bone Regency Bawaslu views that there are allegations of violations of other laws and regulations, namely allegations of violations of ASN neutrality.

Because based on regulations, structural state officials and functional officials in state positions, as well as village heads are prohibited from making decisions and/or taking actions that benefit or harm one of the election participants during the campaign period".

"Furthermore, the Bone Regency Bawaslu will follow up by continuing to the State Civil Apparatus Commission (KASN)," said Alwi.