Attorney General's Office Responds to Acquittal Verdict for Delpedro and Others

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has issued a response regarding the acquittal verdict against Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation, and others in connection with charges of allegedly inciting violence during the August 2025 demonstrations.

Anang Supriatna, Chief of the Attorney General’s Legal Information Centre (Kapuspenkum), stated in Jakarta on Friday that prosecutors are still determining their position on whether to file a cassation appeal.

“Clearly, the defendants have been acquitted, but the case was processed using the old penal code at the time. We shall await the prosecutors’ position in due course,” he said.

Previously, Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation, and three others were acquitted of charges related to allegedly inciting violence during the chaotic August 2025 demonstrations, in a verdict delivered by the panel of judges at Jakarta Central District Court.

Alongside Delpedro, three other defendants acquitted by the court included Lokataru staff member Muzaffar Salim, administrator of Gejayan Memanggil Syahdan Husein, and administrator of Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat Khariq Anhar.

“We declare the defendants not proven guilty of the criminal offence as charged in the prosecution’s alternative charges two, three and four,” said presiding judge Harika Nova Yeri.

The presiding judge stated that during proceedings, the prosecutors failed to present evidence demonstrating any attempt at manipulation, fabrication or falsification of facts by the defendants.

In particular, the judge continued, regarding social media posts concerning the circumstances and cause of death of ride-hailing motorcyclist driver Affan Kurniawan.

The panel of judges found that such posts represented a response of anger and human solidarity by human rights activists regarding the incident that befell Affan, rather than an incitement to riot.

“Such posts represented symbolic expression as a form of freedom of expression in response to dissatisfaction with the incident that affected Affan Kurniawan,” the presiding judge stated.

Previously, the four defendants faced charges carrying a sentence of two years imprisonment, as prosecutors believed they had participated in public incitement through speech or writing encouraging others to commit criminal offences or inciting resistance to lawful authority through violence.