Caustic Acid Attack on KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus and the Hunt for Perpetrators

JAKARTA – The evening in Salemba, Central Jakarta, turned ominous when caustic acid was splashed upon Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

The attack occurred on Thursday, 12 March 2026 at approximately 23:37 (Western Indonesian Time), as Andrie passed through Jalan Salemba I–Talang in the Senen district, Central Jakarta, on a motorcycle.

Days after the incident, police investigation began gradually uncovering traces of the perpetrators. The findings were obtained through review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings at several locations.

“Four suspected perpetrators using two motorcycles allegedly waited for the victim in front of KFC Cikini,” explained Iman during a press conference on Monday, 16 March 2026.

According to police, the four individuals first gathered in front of Gambir Station before moving towards the Cikini area to await the victim. The perpetrators then proceeded towards the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) on Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro. From there, the perpetrators allegedly followed the victim to Jalan Salemba I, specifically near Talang Bridge.

One perpetrator was captured on CCTV footage whilst splashing caustic acid onto the victim. “Perhaps one more was keeping watch, but only one carried out the splashing,” Iman stated.

After the attack, the two motorcycles used by the perpetrators immediately dispersed. One motorcycle headed towards Jatinegara, East Jakarta, whilst the other went in the direction of Kalibata, South Jakarta.

Police also recovered an important piece of evidence: a helmet believed to belong to one of the perpetrators, found in the Jalan Salemba area.