Delpedro and co. Acquitted in Incitement Case Over Riotous August 2025 Demonstration

Lokataru Executive Director Delpedro Marhaen and three others have been acquitted in a case of alleged incitement connected to a demonstration that ended in rioting in August 2025. The presiding judge freed Delpedro and the co-defendants of the charges.

The verdict session for Delpedro and others was held at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday (6 March 2026). The other three defendants in the case are admin @gejayanmemanggil Syahdan Husein, Lokataru Foundation staff Muzaffar, and Khariq Anhar, a student at Universitas Riau.

“Concluding that the Defendants Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar, as above, were not proven guilty of the offences alleged in the second, third, and fourth alternative charges brought by the Public Prosecutor,” read the panel chair, Judge Harika Nova Yeri, when delivering the verdict at the district court on Friday (6 March 2026).

“The Defendants are therefore acquitted of all charges by the Public Prosecutor,” added the judge.

The judge stated that the prosecutor failed to present evidence showing attempts at manipulation, incitement, or fabrication of facts by Delpedro et al. The judge found that the content uploaded by Delpedro et al. aligned with the facts as they appeared in the public space.

“Considering that in the examination in court the Public Prosecutor failed to present evidence or even a single piece showing attempts at manipulation, fabrication, or fabrication of facts by the defendants in the flyers posted on Instagram regarding the chronology and cause of death,” the judge said.

The judge believed that the narrative of the posts by Delpedro et al. regarding the death of online scooter taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was based on a belief to uphold justice and as a form of freedom of expression amid disappointment over the events. The judge stated that there was no element of disseminating false or misleading information proven under the law regarding the defendants’ actions.

“Given that the August 28, 2024 posts were made late at night as a response to anger and humanitarian solidarity as human rights activists in reaction to the Affan Kurniawan incident, the posts constitute symbolic expression as a form of freedom of expression in response to the incident affecting Affan Kurniawan,” the judge said.

The judge stated that no witness testified that he or the crowd acted riotously under the direct influence of the Delpedro et al. posts. There was no evidence of an explicit call by the defendants to commit violence or damage as a consequence of the information circulated.

“The only witness who said they were moved to join solidarity for the Affan incident, Anak Faiz Ambia, told the court he was not moved to riot as there was no call to riot, but rather felt protected in exercising freedom of expression,” the judge added.

The judge stated that Delpedro et al. did not prove intention or awareness of the likelihood of rioting arising from those posts. The judge found that the element of deliberately disseminating information or electronic documents containing false notices resulting in rioting was not proven against Delpedro et al.

“Considering all the evidence presented in court, there is no objective proof that the information disseminated was false. There are no official corroborating documents tested in cross-examination,” the judge noted.

“There is no evidence that the defendants knew the information was false before disseminating it. There is no direct causal link between the defendants’ posts and the riot. The riot relates to independent factual events on the ground,” the judge added.

The judge stated that the element of recruiting or using children for military or other purposes, placing a child in danger, was not proven against Delpedro et al. The judge ordered restoration of the defendants’ rights in their dignity and standing.

“Restore the rights of the defendants to their dignity, standing, and honour,” the judge stated.

The judge stated that the crimes were not proven against Delpedro et al. The court ordered the defendants released from urban detention immediately after the ruling.

“Order the Defendants one, two, and three to be released from city detention as soon as this verdict is pronounced,” the judge said.

The judge acquitted Delpedro et al. of all charges under Section 28(2) in conjunction with Section 45A(2) or Section 28(3) in conjunction with Section 45A(3) of Law Number 11 of 2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions, in conjunction with Section 55(1)(1) of the Penal Code or Section 160 of the Penal Code in conjunction with Section 55(1)(1) of the Penal Code, or Section 76H in conjunction with Section 15 in conjunction with Section 87 of Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection in conjunction with Section 55(1)(1) of the Penal Code.

Delpedro et al.’s hearing on the indictment took place previously on Friday (27/2). Prosecutors had demanded two years’ imprisonment for Delpedro, Syahdan, Muzaffar, and Khariq.