Acquittal of Delpedro Marhaen and Colleagues Is Final, Yusril Urges Prosecutors Not to Lodge a Cassation

Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has urged the Prosecutor’s Office not to lodge a cassation against the acquittal of activist Delpedro Marhaen and his co-defendants. He said that under the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), an acquittal cannot be appealed by cassation, and the case should be regarded as final and closed. He stressed that prosecutors should follow the applicable rules rather than seeking loopholes in the old framework.

“I am asking prosecutors not to theorise about a ‘pure’ acquittal or an ‘imperfect’ acquittal to search for grounds to file a cassation, as often happened under the old KUHAP,” Yusril said in a written statement on Saturday (7/3).

Yusril said the government fully respects the decision of the Central Jakarta District Court. He described the acquittal as concrete proof that Indonesia’s judicial process operates independently, without executive interference.

“Judges have tried this case independently, without pressure or influence from any party. The government is fair and respects the independence of the judiciary,” he added.

On restoring the good name, Yusril explained that in a final acquittal, the judge typically automatically records rehabilitation of the defendants’ dignity and honour. If this is not recorded, he said the president has the authority to grant such rehabilitation.

As someone who came from an activist background, Yusril said he respects Delpedro and colleagues’ consistency in facing the legal process. He recalled his message when visiting Delpedro in the Metro Jaya Regional Police detention cell in September last year:

“As an activist, you must be prepared to resist. You must be a gentleman. Prove your innocence in court. You must train to become a future leader,” he recalled.

Previously, the panel of judges at PN Jakarta Pusat, chaired by Harika Nova Yeri, found Delpedro Marhaen (Executive Director of Lokataru), Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein and Khariq Anhar not proven guilty in the case of alleged incitement to protest in August 2025.

This acquittal wipes out the prosecutors’ earlier request to convict the four to two years in prison. The judge also ordered the prosecutors to promptly restore the defendants’ rights in their capacity, position and dignity.

Yusril also conveyed condolences over the death of former Vice President Try Sutrisno, describing the tragedy in Tual as something truly inhumane and a blow to the reform spirit.