Reflecting on the Delpedro case, Yusril urges authorities not to arrest people without solid evidence

JAKARTA — The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has called on law enforcement authorities to exercise caution before making arrests, detentions, or prosecutions of individuals. He said this in reflection of the case involving Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, director of Lokataru Foundation, and other activists who were allegedly implicated in incitement but ultimately acquitted by the court.

“If the initial evidence is not strong enough, law enforcement authorities should reconsider making arrests, detentions, or prosecutions in court,” Yusril told Kompas.com on Saturday (7/3/2026).

He emphasised that if a person is eventually acquitted by the court, the state has an obligation to rehabilitate their good name and open the possibility of compensation for the suffering endured during the legal process.

“For if the defendant is acquitted by the court, the state is obliged to rehabilitate and compensate for the distress arising from the legal process,” Yusril said.

The judge’s panel noted that not only were the charges against Delpedro and his associates not proven to be credible and persuasive, but the verdict explicitly included rehabilitation.

“The panel of judges has stated that they rehabilitate the good name, capacity, and dignity of Delpedro and his colleagues. Thus the rehabilitation rights guaranteed by law have been fulfilled through the court decision,” Yusril stated.

The Panel of Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court stated that Delpedro Marhaen, Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar were not proven to have incited riot that led to violence during the August 2025 demonstrations.

“The court finds that defendant I Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, defendant II Muzaffar Salim, defendant III Syahdan Husein and defendant IV Khariq Anhar were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt to have committed the offenses charged in the first, second, third, and fourth charges,” said Chief Judge Harika Nova Yeri in the verdict in PN Jakarta Pusat, Kemayoran, on Friday (6/3/2026).

“Therefore, the defendants are acquitted of all charges brought by the Prosecution.”