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JAKARTA— Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Matters, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has urged prosecutors not to pursue further appeals in the case of Delpedro Marhaen and three other activists who were acquitted of inciting unrest during August 2025 demonstrations. The move comes as the country’s updated criminal procedure code restricts appeals in cases resulting in an acquittal.
According to the modern code, formally known as Law Number 20 of 2025, prosecutors are barred from filing a cassation – a type of appeal – against a verdict of not guilty. This decision underscores a shift in Indonesian legal procedure designed to finalize acquittals more swiftly.
“I ask the prosecutors not to theorize about ‘pure’ or ‘impure’ acquittals to find reasons to appeal, as often happened under the old KUHAP,” Yusril said Friday, March 6, 2026.
Read also: Yusril Says Delpedro et al. Could Receive Rehabilitation from Prabowo
Yusril affirmed that with the acquittal, the case of Delpedro and his colleagues should be considered final and closed. The ruling highlights the independence of the Indonesian judiciary and the government’s commitment to respecting its decisions.
“The court has demonstrated its independence, and the government also did not intervene in any way during the trial,” Yusril stated.
Read also: Delpedro et al. Acquitted, Yusril: Court Independent, Government Did Not Intervene
Yusril also emphasized that the government respects the decision by the Central Jakarta District Court to acquit Delpedro Marhaen and the others. “The government is acting fairly and respects the independence of the judiciary,” he said.
Delpedro et al. Acquitted
In addition to Delpedro, those acquitted include Lokataru staff member Muzaffar Salim, Gejayan Calling administrator Syahdan Husein, and Alliance of Student Plaintiffs administrator Khariq Anhar. The court found the four defendants not guilty of inciting unrest during the August 2025 protests.
Read also: After Being Acquitted, Delpedro Jabs at Yusril’s Statement on Attitude
Following the verdict, Delpedro called on the state to compensate him and his three colleagues for material losses incurred during the legal proceedings. He stated that the process had cost them opportunities, including employment and education, due to approximately six months of detention, as well as legal fees.
“We ask Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and the state, to restore our dignity, to replace all the losses we have experienced, material losses,” Delpedro said after the ruling at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday, March 6, 2026.
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