The Central Jakarta District Court\u2019s panel of judges on Friday\ndelivered a not-guilty verdict for four activists\u2014Delpedro Marhaen,\nMuzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar\u2014clearing them of all\ncharges linked to the mass demonstrations that took place in August\n2025. The court quashed the prosecutor\u2019s bid for a two-year prison term.\nIn its ruling, the panel stated that the entire indictment failed to\nprove the alleged offences beyond reasonable doubt, which included\nincitement, hateful speech with SARA elements, dissemination of false\ninformation, and accusations of child exploitation.<\/p>\n
Speaking through the decision, the court emphasised that in a\nconstitutional democracy criminal law should not be used to intervene in\npolitical differences or public aspirations, unless there is a proven\ncriminal act.<\/p>\n
Usman Hamid, director of Amnesty International Indonesia, welcomed\nthe verdict, calling it a turning point in protecting citizens\u2019\nconstitutional rights. \u201cThis acquittal offers new hope. It is not just a\nvictory in the courtroom; it should become a moment for the state to\nguarantee robust protection of the right to assemble and express\npeacefully,\u201d he said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
He argued the case demonstrated tendencies by the state to use legal\ninstruments to silence youth voices rather than address the policies\nunder dispute.<\/p>\n
Earlier, at the first hearing on 16 December 2025, the prosecutors\ncharged Delpedro and others under heavy provisions, including Article\n246 in conjunction with Article 20(c) of the New Indonesian Penal Code\non incitement, the Electronic Information and Transactions Act, and the\nChild Protection Act. However, the testimony showed the evidence was\ninsufficient to meet the elements of a crime. With this verdict, the\ndignity and rights of the four activists should be restored by the\nstate.<\/p>\n
Usman urged the government to use this momentum to halt all\ncriminalisation of civilians in various regions. \u201cThe state must\nguarantee freedom of expression for its people without the shadow of\nbars,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Although Amnesty welcomed the Jakarta verdict, it warned that several\nother individuals face similar legal proceedings after the August 2025\nactions:<\/p>\n
Amnesty noted that other activists faced similar haggling processes\npost August 2025 actions: Delpedro Marhaen was acquitted by PN Jakpus.\nHe called on the state to restore his name and compensate after six\nmonths\u2019 imprisonment related to the August 2025 demonstrations. The\nacquittal for him and the three other defendants is not only for them or\npolitical detainees in Jakarta but for all Indonesian political\nprisoners nationwide. The judge\u2019s chair added that, in particular, posts\non social media regarding the chronology or the causes behind the death\nof ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan had been cited.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza accused the prosecutors of\ndeliberately failing to examine and present Irawan Prakoso in a trial\nover alleged mismanagement of crude oil.<\/p>\n
Chair of Judges\u2019 Supervisory and Investigations KY Joko Sasmito said\nhe had asked the Waskim Team to study and monitor developments in the\nappellate decision.<\/p>\n
Chair of YLBHI welcomed the Central Jakarta District Court\u2019s decision\nto acquit four activists, including Delpedro Marhaen.<\/p>\n
Delpedro Marhaen waved the Iranian flag at PN Jakpus, and called for\nPresident Prabowo to resign from the Board of Peace (BoP) during the\nincitement case verdict.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acquittal-for-delpedro-cs-momentum-ends-authoritarian-practices-1772801953", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }