Court orders new polls in Merauke regent race

JAYAPURA: The Constitutional Court ordered on Tuesday new polls for 10 of 20 districts in Merauke, Papua, citing problems with the Aug. 10 regent election.

Merauke General Election Commission (KPUD) member Jaya Ibnu Suud said Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD read the verdict in Jakarta on Monday.

The first regent election was topped by Romanus Mbraka and Sunaryo, but the other three tickets — Daniel Walinaulik-Oma  Laduani Ladamai, Frederikus Gebze-Waryoto and Laurensius Gebze-Adnan Rosyadi — challenged the results, alleging money politics and voter list irregularities. “The Constitutional Court ruled that a new poll should be held within 60 days after it issued its decision,” Jaya said. — JP