Yusril: The Delpedro acquittal demonstrates that the judiciary is independent

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Prison Administration, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said the acquittal of Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of Lokataru Foundation, and his co-defendants shows that the judicial process is operating independently, without government intervention. He stated that the government has fulfilled its commitment not to interfere in the ongoing legal process. ‘The courts have demonstrated their independence, and the government has not intervened in the proceedings in any way,’ Yusril told reporters in Jakarta on Friday. Thus, he emphasised that the government respects the Jakarta Central District Court’s ruling. According to him, the judges heard the Delpedro case independently and without pressure or influence from any party. Through the ruling, he added, the Delpedro group should be released from detention and return to society. ‘The government is fair and respects the independence of the judiciary,’ he said. Yusril explained that under the new provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), the public prosecutor can no longer file cassation against acquittal decisions. Therefore, he continued, the Delpedro case should be considered final and closed. ‘I urge prosecutors not to argue the existence of ’pure acquittal’ or ‘non-pure acquittal’ to find reasons to file cassation, as often happened under the old KUHAP,’ Yusril said. In addition to Delpedro, three other defendants were acquitted: Lokataru staff Muzaffar Salim, Gejayan Memanggil admin Syahdan Husein, and Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat admin Khariq Anhar. The four defendants were acquitted after being found not guilty of incitement in a case involving demonstrations in August 2025 that ended in clashes. In the trial, the public prosecutor was deemed unable to present evidence showing manipulation, fabrication, or fabrication of facts by the defendants. Consequently, the panel of judges ordered the public prosecutor to restore the rights of the defendants in their capabilities, status, dignity, and honour. Earlier, the four defendants had been charged with two years imprisonment for allegedly being guilty beyond reasonable doubt of inciting or participating in inciting actions to oppose the authorities with violence. In that case, Delpedro and colleagues were charged with uploading 80 collaboration contents that incited hatred of the government from 24-29 August 2025. It was stated that the defendants uploaded electronic information on social media managed by the four defendants, encouraging students to participate in rioting. The calls through social media were produced from 24-29 August 2025, and analyses of the posts suggested that students, mostly underage, were enticed and followed in pursuit of anarchy in front of the Indonesian House of Representatives, in front of Metro Jaya Police, and other locations. One of the posts cited as an accusation was a poster reading ‘Legal aid for students joining the street demonstrations’ with the caption ‘You students who join the protests? Do not fear intimidation or criminalisation; contact us immediately’.