Cornea of KontraS Activist Andrie Yunus Damaged After Being Doused with Acid
The National Central Hospital Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) announced that Andrie Yunus (27), Deputy Coordinator of KontraS (Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence), suffered corneal damage after being doused with acid.
According to the medical team at RSCM, the acid caused a sharp decline in Andrie’s vision and damage to his corneal surface.
“Further examination results showed that the patient sustained chemical burns covering approximately 20 per cent of his body surface area and third-degree chemical trauma to his right eye during the acute phase. This condition caused a sharp decline in vision and damage to the corneal surface,” stated RSCM’s press statement on Monday evening (16 March).
To address his condition, Andrie underwent a procedure to remove damaged tissue from his right eye and received an amniotic membrane transplant to protect the eye surface and support the healing process.
Subsequently, Andrie was admitted to the High Care Unit (HCU) for burns treatment to receive comprehensive monitoring and further care by a multidisciplinary medical team consisting of ophthalmologists, reconstructive plastic surgeons, and emergency medicine specialists.
“The therapy provided includes wound care, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, vitamins, and treatment to maintain stable intraocular pressure,” RSCM explained.
Nonetheless, Andrie’s overall condition has been stabilised and the medical team is focused on restoring vision function.
“Currently, the patient’s general condition is stable and not life-threatening. Medical treatment will continue in stages according to the patient’s condition progression, including possible tissue reconstruction procedures and further operations to help optimise the restoration of vision function,” RSCM stated.
Andrie sustained chemical burns from exposure to caustic liquid on his face and several parts of his body.
Andrie arrived at the Emergency Department (ED) at RSCM on Friday (13 March) in the early hours of around midnight, with complaints of burns on his face, neck, chest, back and both arms, accompanied by vision problems in his right eye.
Upon arrival at the ED, the medical team immediately conducted initial examinations and stabilisation procedures. Tests using pH indicators revealed exposure to acidic chemical substances in the wound areas.
Andrie Yunus became a victim of an acid attack by unknown assailants that resulted in serious injuries across his body, particularly on both hands and face, chest, and eye area.
The incident occurred shortly after Andrie finished recording a podcast at the Office of the Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at around 23.00 on Thursday (12 March).
Police suspect that four individuals were involved in the acid attack on Andrie. This assessment is based on analysis of 86 CCTV cameras and 2,610 videos with a total duration of 10,320 minutes that police examined during the investigation.
Kombes Iman Imanuddin, Director of General Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Police, said that the CCTV footage showed the four suspected perpetrators waiting for the victim outside a KFC in Cikini, Central Jakarta.
“Four suspected perpetrators allegedly used two motorcycles whilst waiting for the victim outside KFC Cikini,” Iman said at a press conference at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Monday (16 March).
Police have applied Articles 467(2) or 468(1) of the Criminal Code regarding premeditated assault in this case. This has drawn scrutiny from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), which believes police should instead apply articles concerning premeditated attempted murder.
Under the new Criminal Code, premeditated murder is stipulated in Article 459, carrying the death penalty. Premeditated attempted murder may be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years imprisonment in accordance with Article 17(4).