Discrepancies Between TNI and Police Versions Regarding Suspects in Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus
The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) released updates on the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, almost simultaneously on Wednesday afternoon (18/3/2026).
However, the two institutions presented differing versions regarding the number and initials of the suspected perpetrators.
TNI Version: Four BAIS Soldiers Become Suspects
The TNI’s Pushom revealed that four BAIS TNI soldiers are suspected perpetrators. The four suspects are initialled NDP, SL, BWH, and ES.
TNI Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Police Major General Yusri Nuryanto stated that all four suspects are members of the BAIS TNI Military Police Unit, from the naval (AL) and air force (AU) branches.
“We convey that all four suspected perpetrators are members of the BAIS TNI Military Police Unit, not from any other unit but from the BAIS TNI Military Police Unit,” said Maj Gen Yusri during a press conference at TNI Headquarters, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18/3/2026).
When asked further, Yusri specified that the four suspects are from the AL and AU branches. “From AL and AU,” he added in response to the question.
Furthermore, Yusri stated that three of the four suspects hold officer ranks. The highest, he continued, is at the rank of captain.
“So Captain NDB, First Lieutenant SL, First Lieutenant BHW, Sergeant ES. During the investigation, we will work as thoroughly as possible with the hope that we can carry it out as quickly as possible in a professional manner,” he said.
He mentioned that the suspects are currently secured. They are also still being intensively questioned by Pushom TNI.
Police Version: Two Executors, Perpetrators Could Be More Than Four
On the other hand, the Metro Jaya Regional Police announced two perpetrators who acted as executors in the acid attack on Andrie Yunus. The two are initialled BHC and MAK.
However, the police suspect that the number of involved perpetrators could exceed four people.
“Currently, we suspect that we can inform that the two people we showed earlier from this Polri data—one initialled BHC, two initialled MAK. However, from our investigation results, we do not rule out the possibility that the perpetrators could be suspected to be more than four,” said Director of Criminal Investigation for Metro Jaya Regional Police Commissioner Iman Imannudin at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18/3/2026).
Kompolnas: Disclosures Must Be Based on Objective Evidence
Kompolnas responded to the differences in findings between TNI and Polri. Kompolnas Commissioner Mohammad Choirul Anam, or Cak Anam, emphasised that identifying perpetrators must be based on objective evidence, one of which is CCTV recordings.
“So the most important thing in this incident is that it is based on something that can be seen and measured objectively. One of them is, yes, CCTV,” said Cak Anam when asked about the differing initials of perpetrators revealed by Polri and TNI.
According to him, the identification of suspected perpetrators has been based on measurable evidence that can be scientifically tested. He also believes that the police investigation is proceeding accountably.
“Because this incident was recorded on CCTV, the basis must be something that can be measured scientifically, seen with the naked eye, and logically present. So as police overseers, when they launch CCTV and so on, and previously we also checked, a few days ago we checked the CCTV and the logic of the incident’s flow, we believe that our police colleagues are working accountably. That is the most important thing,” he stated.