Hotman Paris Ngeyel Doesn't Want Sirekap To Be Discussed At The Constitutional Court, Saldi Isra: Don't Just Come Here

Prabowo-Gibran's Legal Team, Hotman Paris Hutapea/DOK PHOTO: Diah Ayu

JAKARTA - Prabowo-Gibran's legal team, Hotman Paris Hutapea repeatedly emphasized that litigants in the 2024 presidential election dispute trial at the Constitutional Court (MK) do not need to discuss the problem of the Recapitulation Information System (Sirekap).

This is because the experts brought in by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in the trial have explained that the election votes were not taken from Sirekap, but based on the manual tiered recapitulation process.

"If it turns out that what is used in the decree on the final announcement of vote counting is manual and tiered calculations are not the result of Sirekap, is it still necessary, Mr. 'Learning' here? Do we still need to talk about Sirekap?" said Hotman at the Constitutional Court hearing, Wednesday, April 3.

Hotman assessed that the experts and witnesses who were present today gave an explanation no longer needed to answer the allegations of inflating votes in Sirekap which were argued by the applicant, both the Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar-Mahfud teams.

"It's still necessary, the witness answered questions from Mr. Refly and Bambang (Anies-Imin's legal team) who always talked about this Sirekap?" he said.

Responding, Constitutional Court Judge Saldi Isra disagreed with Hotman. Saldi emphasized that Sirekap was included in the argument of Anies-Muhaimin and Ganjar-Pranowo's lawsuit, so it had to be discussed in court.

"Mr. Hotman, I have emphasized earlier, this is being argued. We, the Court, have an interest in getting an explanation of this matter. Don't think that person's presence is not important. We consider it important. So, don't question his presence anymore," said Saldi.

Saldi then gave Hotman the opportunity as a related party from the Prabowo-Gibran legal team to ask the KPU witness to answer the question. Hotman again continued with his questions as well as affirmation that Sirekap no longer needed to be heard in court

"Do the witnesses agree, because what was announced was manual and tiered calculations, not the result of Sirekap? So the weakness of the sirekap no longer needs to be discussed," said Hotman.

Seeing Hotman still fussing about his arguments. Saldi warned him.

"So, we shouldn't ignore it, yes! Consider this (the Sirekap discussion) nothing important. If not, we don't have to just come here (the trial)," said Saldi.

A member of Anies-Muhaimin's legal team, Bambang Widjojanto then staggered and replied to Hotman's statement which alluded to him.

"The statement 'ngeyel' is also inappropriate to say, Hotman," said Bambang.