Cries for Help from Andrie Yunus After Acid Attack Mistaken for Robbery by Residents

JAKARTA — Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was initially mistaken for a robbery victim when he cried out for help after being doused with corrosive acid in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday 12 March 2026.

A resident even brandished a machete upon approaching Andrie following the incident.

“When it happened, traffic here wasn’t very heavy. Suddenly someone shouted loudly ‘Help, help!’ Some residents also brought weapons thinking it was a robbery victim,” recalled Buyung (32), a witness to the incident, when met on Talang Street, Menteng District, Central Jakarta, on Friday 13 March 2026.

Andrie stated that he had been doused with corrosive acid by an unknown assailant.

Residents subsequently asked about Andrie’s identity and occupation. Buyung observed that the skin on Andrie’s chest, hands and eyes had become blistered and reddened from the acid splash.

A resident offered Andrie water to drink. Shortly afterwards, Andrie approached his motorcycle lying at the roadside and immediately rode towards the nearby KontraS mess facility.

Residents had offered to escort Andrie to the mess, but he declined. “He felt he was still able to ride the motorcycle,” Buyung recalled.

Meanwhile, several other residents immediately mounted motorcycles in pursuit of the assailants. Two residents on motorcycles attempted to chase the perpetrators, but subsequently lost their trail.

Buyung noted that robbery, assault and acid attacks at the location of the acid attack on Andrie occur fairly frequently, happening approximately every two to three months.