Legal Expert Deems Andrie Yunus Acid Attack Case More Appropriate for Military Court

The acid attack case against activist Andrie Yunus continues to draw public attention. The incident, which took place in the Senen area on 12 March 2026, is now entering the investigation phase by the TNI’s Pushpom. Amid this process, a legal expert’s view has emerged that the case would be more appropriately resolved through the military justice system.

This opinion arises due to suspicions of involvement by rogue active TNI members in the incident. In the Indonesian legal system, this carries different jurisdictional consequences compared to general criminal cases.

Legal expert Fransiscus Xaverius Tangkudung explained that if the perpetrator is an active military member, the legal process automatically falls under the authority of the military court. This principle is known as lex specialis derogat legi generali, where special rules override general ones.

“The legal basis is explicitly regulated in Law No. 31/1997 on Military Justice. This regulation states that TNI soldiers are subject to military court authority for examining, trying, and deciding criminal cases committed by military members,” Frans told reporters on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

Additionally, other regulations such as the Military Criminal Code and revisions to the TNI Law further emphasise that any legal violations by soldiers must be processed through internal military mechanisms.

“If Pushpom TNI confirms that the rogue perpetrator is an active TNI member, then legally it is very clear that the investigation and trial process falls under the military institution’s authority. This is important to maintain legal certainty and avoid overlapping jurisdictions,” he said.

According to Fransiscus, military courts not only impose criminal sanctions as in general law but also additional internal sanctions. These punishments can include dishonourable discharge (PTDH), demotion in rank, or revocation of soldier status.

He also cited previous cases that demonstrate the military court’s firmness in imposing severe punishments on its members.

“This ruling shows that the military court does not hesitate to impose maximum penalties for serious violations committed by its members. This serves as evidence that the TNI’s internal mechanism has strict and consistent standards of law enforcement,” Frans stated.