Prosecutors Appeal Acquittal of Delpedro and Associates, Still Referring to Old Criminal Procedure Code

JAKARTA - Public Prosecutors (JPU) have filed a cassation appeal against the acquittal of Lokataru Foundation Executive Director Delpedro Marhaen and his associates, referring to the old Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). “Regarding the case of Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah et al., who were acquitted during the examination period, the legal remedy remains based on Law No. 8 of 1981 on Criminal Procedure (old KUHAP),” said Head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office Legal Information Centre Anang Supriatna when contacted on Tuesday (7 April 2026). He explained that the cassation filing refers to the transitional provision in Article 361 letter c of Law No. 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). Therefore, the JPU is pursuing a cassation appeal against the acquittal of Delpedro and his associates. “Except for review processes, which follow the provisions of the 2025 KUHAP,” he added. Meanwhile, Article 299 of the new KUHAP states that cassation cannot be filed against acquittal decisions. “I urge prosecutors not to theorise about ‘pure acquittals’ and ‘impure acquittals’ to find reasons for filing cassations, as often happened under the old KUHAP,” said Yusril on Friday (6 March 2026), quoted from Antara. Previously, the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court ruled that Delpedro Marhaen, Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar were not proven guilty of incitement leading to unrest during the August 2025 demonstration. “It is declared that defendant I Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, defendant II Muzaffar Salim, defendant III Syahdan Husein, and defendant IV Khariq Anhar are not legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing the criminal offence as charged in the first, second, third, and fourth indictments,” stated Presiding Judge Harika Nova Yeri during the verdict hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court in Kemayoran on Friday (6 March 2026). “The defendants are acquitted from all charges by the Public Prosecutor,” she continued. The Presiding Judge also ordered the four defendants to be released from detention after the verdict was pronounced. The judge further requested the restoration of the defendants’ rights in terms of ability, position, dignity, and honour.