Acquitting Judge Delpedro Praised
Ramadan aside and geopolitics aside, Lokataru Foundation Executive Director Delpedro Marhaen lauded the courage, wisdom, and prudence of the panel of judges of the Central Jakarta District Court for rendering acquittals to him and the three other defendants. Delpedro, together with the other three defendants—Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar—were acquitted in the verdict-reading session at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday (6 March), in connection with the case of alleged incitement during the August 2025 protests that ended in chaos.
“We thank the bench for applying the principles of human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression in its decision,” Delpedro said after the trial.
He stressed that the acquittal is not only theirs but belongs to all political prisoners in Indonesia. Accordingly, he urged all judges handling similar political-prisoner cases in Jakarta, East Java, West Java, Central Java, and elsewhere to rely on prudent jurisprudence and thoughtful considerations.
Regarding the acquittal, Delpedro asked the public prosecutors not to file an appeal or cassation. “We hope there will be no further legal action from the Prosecutor’s Office. We hope this becomes the final decision and can be accepted as a ruling that safeguards democracy and freedom of expression,” he said.
The four defendants were acquitted after being found not guilty of the charges. In court, the public prosecutors were deemed unable to present evidence showing manipulation, fabrication, or fabrication of facts by the defendants. Consequently, the Bench ordered the public prosecutor to restore the defendants’ rights in terms of ability, status, honour, and dignity.
Earlier, the four defendants faced charges carrying a two-year prison sentence, believed beyond reasonable doubt to have committed the crime of participating in a public offence with spoken or written incitement, or inciting people to oppose the authorities with violence.
In that case, Delpedro and colleagues were accused of uploading 80 collaborative posts that incited hatred against the government from 24-29 August 2025. It was stated that the defendants uploaded electronic information on social media managed by the four defendants, encouraging students to participate in rioting.
The call to action via social media was produced from 24-29 August 2025, with narratives posted by the defendants allegedly persuading students—mostly minors—to join the unrest in front of the DPR RI, in front of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, and some other locations.
One of the posts forming the basis of the indictment was a poster titled “Legal assistance for students who take to the streets” with the caption “You students who joined the action? Do not fear intimidation or criminalisation—contact us immediately”. (AP/P-3)
In particular, the Presiding Judge noted the posters posted on social media concerning the chronology and the cause of the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan.
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