Prevent Meeting Leaks, Elevator from Floor 1 to 15 of MK Building Sterilized

The potential for leakage of information on the slaughterhouse process is anticipated. The elevator in the MK Building from the 1st to the 15th floor was also sterilized.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Constitutional Judge Saldi Isra (left) and Chairman of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo (right) in a continuation hearing of the Presidential Election Dispute Settlement (PHPU) at the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, on Monday (1/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Constitutional Court has scheduled a deliberation meeting of judges to decide the dispute over the results of the general election for president and vice president until Sunday (21/4/2024) or the day before the verdict is read. The potential for information to leak during the RPH process has also been anticipated.

The elevator in the Constitutional Court Building, for example, from the 1st floor to the 15th floor which provides access to the judge's deliberation meeting room (RPH) on the 16th floor has first been sterilized. In this way, it is hoped that the Constitutional Court's decision will only become known to the public after it is announced by MK judges on Monday (22/4/2024).

The spokesperson of the Constitutional Court (MK), Fajar Laksono, stated that eight constitutional judges are still conducting a Judicial Review Hearing for two cases of disputes over the results of the presidential and vice presidential elections. The hearing has been conducted in a marathon since Saturday, April 6th, 2024, and scheduled until Sunday, April 21st, 2024, a day before the reading of the verdict on Monday, April 22nd, 2024.

"We do not know exactly whether the decision-making process or discussion can be completed faster, but so far the RPH schedule is still arranged until Saturday and Sunday," he said at the Constitutional Court building on Friday (19/4/2024).

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It's been sworn in

However, he does not know the development of RPH as it is closed and limited in nature. Only eight judges of the Constitutional Court and related officials in the RPH room know the contents of the RPH. They have also been sworn not to disclose the substance of the discussion during the RPH.

We do not know exactly whether the decision-making process or discussions can be completed faster, but so far, the RPH has been scheduled until Saturday and Sunday.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The atmosphere of the continuing trial of the Dispute of the General Election Result (PHPU) for the 2024 Presidential Election at the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, on Monday (1/4/2024). The continuation of the trial with case number 1/PHPU.PRES-XXII/2024 heard witnesses and experts from the applicant team of candidate pair Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar.

According to Fajar, the RPH will not deadlock even though the composition of the judges' attitudes is a 4-4 draw. The decision will be taken based on the position taken by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Suhartoyo, while an attitude that differs from that of the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court will be a dissenting opinion. "So, there will be no deadlock," he said.

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Anticipate leaks

The organization has also anticipated the potential for information leaks during the RPH process. The room for conducting RPH is sterilized from parties who are not involved. Security personnel are also prepared to ensure that no one brings devices to the RPH room. Even the elevator from the 1st to the 15th floor, which is the access to the RPH room on the 16th floor, has been sterilized.

On the other hand, all judges and employees involved in the RPH (Constitutional Court Hearing) have already taken an oath not to leak any information. "So, we can ensure that if there is any leak, it certainly does not come from the Constitutional Court," said Fajar.

Separately, a member of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Idham Holik, stated that the KPU, as the respondent party, is optimistic that the Constitutional Court will reject the lawsuit regarding the presidential election dispute. This is because, during the trial process, the KPU has responded to the request and handed over various evidence in accordance with legal regulations and facts.

I personally do not have the capacity to assess the influence of amicus curiae on the PHPU decision for the presidential election because it is entirely within the authority of the MK panel of judges.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Constitutional Court (MK) officers carry the amicus curiae sheet handed over by representatives of students from the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, Diponegoro University and Padjadjaran University who were present at the MK, Jakarta, to be handed over to the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Tuesday (16/ 4/2024).

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Even though there were 47 amicus curiae or friends of the court submitted to the Constitutional Court, he remained confident that the Constitutional Court's decision would still refer to Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections. Because, in the Election Law, PHPU Presidential elections only concern disputes over election results that affect the electability of election participants.

"I personally do not have the capacity to assess the influence of amicus curiae on the PHPU decision for the presidential election because it is entirely within the authority of the MK panel of judges. "Let's respect the PHPU presidential election trial process in accordance with the Election Law and the Constitutional Court Law," said Idham.