Delpedro and Others Acquitted; Yusril Urges Prosecution Not to Seek Grounds for Cassation
JAKARTA — Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra urged prosecutors not to search for reasons to file cassation against the acquittal verdicts for Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Delpedro, and three other activists in the case of incitement to riot during August 2025.
Yusril stated that, under the provisions of the new Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP), prosecutors can no longer lodge cassation appeals against acquittal rulings.
‘I urge prosecutors not to theorise about the existence of ’pure acquittal’ and ‘not-pure acquittal’ to search for grounds to file cassation, as was often the case under the old KUHAP,’ Yusril said on Friday (6 March 2026), quoted by Antara.
Moreover, Yusril assessed that the acquittal verdicts handed down by the judges indicate that the legal proceedings against Delpedro and co. were carried out independently of government interference.
‘The courts have demonstrated their independence, and the government has not intervened in the progress of the proceedings,’ he stated.
‘The government is fair and respects the independence of the judiciary,’ he added.
Besides Delpedro, there are three other defendants who were acquitted: Lokataru staff Muzaffar Salim, Gejayan Memanggil admin Syahdan Husein, and Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat admin Khariq Anhar.
The Central Jakarta District Court stated that the four defendants were not proven guilty of committing a crime in the case of alleged incitement during the August 2025 demonstrations that ended in clashes.
He said the legal process deprived them of various opportunities, from employment to education, due to their detention for about six months. In addition, they also had to bear the costs of the trial.
‘We are asking Yusril Ihza Mahendra and the state to restore, repair our dignity and honour, and compensate all losses we have suffered, including material losses,’ Delpedro said after the ruling at the Central Jakarta District Court, Friday (6 March 2026).