Attorney General Responds to Delpedro's Acquittal Verdict

The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has responded to the acquittal verdict issued to Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation, and colleagues in a case concerning alleged incitement during the August 2025 demonstrations.

Anang Supriatna, Head of the Attorney General’s Legal Information Centre, stated in Jakarta on Friday (13 March) that the public prosecutor is still determining whether to file a cassation appeal.

“Clearly, those in question have been acquitted, but at that time the case was processed using the old Criminal Code during the proceedings. We will wait for the public prosecutor’s stance in due course,” he said.

The Central Jakarta District Court previously acquitted Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation, and three others of alleged incitement charges related to the August 2025 demonstrations that turned violent. Alongside Delpedro, three other defendants were acquitted: Lokataru staff member Muzaffar Salim, Gejayan Memanggil admin Syahdan Husein, and Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat admin Khariq Anhar.

The presiding judge, Harika Nova Yeri, stated: “We declare the defendants not proven guilty of criminal charges as alleged in the public prosecutor’s alternative second, third and fourth counts.”

The judge noted that during proceedings, the public prosecutor failed to present evidence demonstrating any attempt at manipulation, fabrication or distortion of facts by the defendants, particularly regarding social media posts chronicling the circumstances and cause of death of Affan Kurniawan, a rideshare driver.

The judges determined that these posts represented a response of anger and human solidarity as human rights activists to the incident involving Affan, rather than an invitation to cause disturbances.

“The posts constituted symbolic expression as a form of freedom of expression expressing disappointment at the incident affecting Affan Kurniawan,” the presiding judge stated.

Previously, the four defendants faced prosecution seeking a two-year prison sentence for allegedly committing the offence of publicly inciting persons through spoken or written word to commit criminal acts or to resist lawful authority with violence.

Delpedro has emphasised that the struggle continues as long as civilians remain criminalised for their critical voices.