Indonesian Activists Acquitted in August 2025 Riot Case, Prosecutor Urged Not to Appeal

JAKARTA – Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has requested that public prosecutors refrain from filing an appeal against the acquittal of Executive Director Delpedro Marhaen and three other activists in the incitement case related to the August 2025 riots.

Yusril stated that, according to the provisions of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), prosecutors are no longer permitted to file cassation appeals against acquittal decisions. Kompas.id reported on this development on February 19, 2026.

“I ask the prosecutor to no longer theorize the existence of ‘pure acquittal’ and ‘impure acquittal’ decisions to seem for reasons to file a cassation, as often happened during the old KUHAP era,” Yusril said on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Government Respects Judicial Independence

Yusril emphasized that the acquittal demonstrates the independence of the judicial process, free from government intervention. “The court has demonstrated its independence and the government has not intervened in any way in the proceedings,” he stated.

The government, he affirmed, respects the decision of the Central Jakarta District Court to acquit Delpedro and his colleagues.

Defendants Acquitted

Alongside Delpedro Marhaen, Lokataru staff Muzaffar Salim, Gejayan Menggum Syahdan Husein admin, and Plaintiff Student Alliance admin Khariq Anhar were also acquitted. The Central Jakarta District Court found that none of the four were proven guilty of inciting unrest during the August 2025 demonstrations. IndoLeft detailed the case on February 19, 2026.

Call for Compensation

Following the acquittal, Delpedro Marhaen called on the state to compensate him and his three colleagues for the losses they incurred during the legal proceedings. He cited lost perform and educational opportunities due to approximately six months of detention, as well as the costs associated with the trial.

“We ask Yusril Ihza Mahendra, to the state to restore, repair our honor and dignity, replace all the losses we have experienced, material losses,” Delpedro said after the verdict hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday, March 6, 2026.

The August 2025 protests were initially triggered by proposed increases in housing allowances for Indonesian politicians, which were met with public criticism. The situation escalated following the death of a motorcycle taxi driver after being struck by a police vehicle, leading to riots and a subsequent crackdown on activists. The Conversation reported on the widespread arrests in October 2025.