Yusril: Rehabilitation for Delpedro and Co-Defendants Fulfilled by Court Judgment

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Public Order (Menko Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the rehabilitation rights for Lokataru Executive Director Delpedro Marhaen and colleagues have been fulfilled through the judge’s acquittal. Yusril said President Prabowo Subianto does not need to issue rehabilitation any longer.

‘The panel has stated that Delpedro et al.’s name, competence, and dignity have been rehabilitated. Accordingly, the rehabilitation rights guaranteed by law have been fulfilled through the court ruling, so the President does not need to issue a rehabilitation decision if Delpedro were to apply for it,’ Yusril told reporters on Saturday (7 March 2026).

Yusril noted that Delpedro et al.’s claim for damages is already covered by the new KUHAP mechanism. According to Yusril, Delpedro et al. can file a damages claim through the pre-trial process at the Central Jakarta District Court.

‘Under Articles 176 and 177 of the New KUHAP, the same judge who heard the main case may also hear the damages claim in a pre-trial hearing,’ he explained.

Yusril stated that the police or prosecutors cannot directly provide damages as requested by Delpedro. He reiterated that compensation must be pursued through the pre-trial mechanism.

‘Compensation must be sought via the pre-trial mechanism as provided in Articles 173, 174, and 175 of the New KUHAP. Regardless of the court’s eventual decision, the government will be bound by and respect that decision,’ he said.

Yusril invited Delpedro et al. to pursue their rights through legal channels. He even suggested that such steps could set an important precedent for Indonesia’s legal practice.

‘If Delpedro applies for a pre-trial to claim damages, he might be the first to utilise the mechanism established in the New KUHAP. Who knows, the court’s decision could become jurisprudence for handling similar cases in the future,’ he said.

Yusril stressed that law enforcement must be carried out in a precise and fair manner. Therefore, authorities should think twice before arresting, detaining, or prosecuting someone.

‘If the initial evidence is not strong enough, law enforcement agencies should reconsider arrests, detentions, or prosecutions. For if the accused is ultimately acquitted, the state is obliged to rehabilitate and compensate for the suffering caused by the legal process,’ he asserted.

According to Yusril, from the Delpedro case all parties can glean lessons for upholding the law in line with Reform Era reforms via the new KUHAP.

‘To Delpedro first of all I ask that he not whine when arrested and detained. As an activist he should defend himself with proper conduct, both at the investigation stage and in court. He has done so,’ he said.

Delpedro et al. were acquitted

Delpedro Marhaen, admin at @gejayanmemanggil Syahdan Husein, Lokataru Foundation staff Muzaffar, and Universitas Riau student Khariq Anhar were acquitted in a case of alleged incitement. The judge freed Delpedro et al. from all charges.

‘Mengadili, menyatakan Terdakwa satu Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, Terdakwa dua Muzaffar Salim, Terdakwa tiga Syahdan Husein, dan Terdakwa empat Khariq Anhar tersebut di atas, tidak terbukti bersalah melakukan tindak pidana sebagaimana didakwakan dalam dakwaan alternatif kedua, alternatif ketiga dan alternatif keempat Penuntut Umum,’ said the panel’s chair Harika Nova Yeri when reading the verdict on Friday (6 March).

‘Membebaskan para Terdakwa oleh karena itu dari seluruh dakwaan Penuntut Umum,’ the judge added.

The judge ordered restoration of the rights of Delpedro et al. in their capacity, standing, dignity and honour. The judge ordered the defendants to be released from city detention after this verdict.

‘Temulihkan hak-hak para Terdakwa dalam kemampuan, kedudukan, harkat serta martabatnya,’ the judge said.