Defence Minister says military courts could hand down tougher sentences for acid-attack perpetrators

Jakarta — Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the military judiciary could impose heavier punishments on soldiers alleged to have participated as perpetrators in acid-splashing cases. ‘If we were talking about a splash of acid, the penalties can be heavier,’ he said during a working meeting with Commission I of DPR RI in Jakarta on Tuesday, in response to lawmakers’ questions about the acid-splashing attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. He said the military courts do not discriminate when punishing soldiers found guilty. He noted that a high-ranking officer had previously been jailed for life. ‘You can ask the TNI how many three-star, two-star, one-star officers have been imprisoned? We do not look at who they are. So, with military justice, that is not a matter that is easy; we do it,’ he added. He emphasised the integrity of military justice. ‘So, you should know that military justice is of very high value. Moreover, there is now a military prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Office, and there is a military chamber in the Supreme Court,’ he said.

It is known that Military Court II-08 Jakarta is currently trying the acid-splashing case against KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus. The four defendants who are soldiers have been brought to the dock: Sersan Dua Edi Sudarko, Letnan Satu Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Kapten Nandala Dwi Prasetya, and Letnan Sami Lakka. The four defendants face penalties under Article 469(1) or Article 468(1) or Article 467(1) in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of the National Criminal Code (KUHP).