Andrie Yunus Absent Again, Judge: Actually, This Trial is for the Victim's Interests
JAKARTA - The victim and KontraS activist, Andrie Yunus, was absent again from the trial of the acid-throwing case at the Military Court II-08 in East Jakarta on Wednesday (13/5/2026).
The defendants in the trial were four members of TNI BAIS, namely Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.
During the proceedings, the Chief Judge of the Panel, Colonel Chk Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto, asked the Military Prosecutor about the presence of additional witness Andrie Yunus.
“Has Mr AY (Andrie Yunus) been able to attend to serve as a witness in this trial?” asked the Chief Judge.
“But the LPSK responded that Mr Andrie Yunus is still unable to attend the Military Court to provide his testimony as per our request to serve as an additional witness,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Corps Hukum (Chk) TNI Muhammad Iswadi.
Iswadi stated that Andrie Yunus is still undergoing recovery following skin graft surgery due to the acid attack he suffered.
“Because of Mr Andrie Yunus’s condition post-surgery, he is still not allowed to be visited. If Mr Andrie Yunus is visited and then moves, the skin graft surgery could potentially fail,” said the Prosecutor.
The judge then conveyed that the current trial also aims to serve the interests of Andrie Yunus as the acid attack victim.
“The state has facilitated this, providing space and a forum through the Military Court, even though there have been many incidents along the way. But now, the state is providing it through a fair and open Military Court. So, we are all here actually for his interests as well,” explained the Judge.
Previously, four Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel were charged with throwing acid at KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus in the Central Jakarta area.
The four defendants are Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, First Lieutenant (Lettu) Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.
The motive was resentment towards Andrie Yunus for interrupting at the Fairmont Jakarta hotel on 16 March 2025.
“The defendants considered Mr Andrie Yunus to have insulted the TNI institution and even trampled on the TNI institution,” said Military Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Corps Hukum (Chk) TNI Muhammad Iswadi during the trial at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Wednesday.