Mahfud MD Explains Why Four TNI Soldiers Who Threw Acid on Andrie Yunus Will Still Be Tried in Military Court
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD has explained the reasons why four TNI soldiers, perpetrators of the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus, will still be tried in a military court, even though the victim is a civilian.
Mahfud stated that under the current applicable law, the case falls under the jurisdiction of the military court because all the suspects who have been named are TNI members.
“From a formal legal perspective or the law currently in force, up to this moment, with the condition where there are four suspects who are all military members, it indeed falls under the competence of the military court,” said Mahfud, quoted from the Mahfud MD Official YouTube channel, Wednesday (29/4/2026).
Moreover, there is circulating information that the number of perpetrators is suspected to be more than four and involves civilians.
However, to date, law enforcement authorities have only named four suspects from the military element.
Therefore, according to Mahfud, the legal process remains in the realm of the military court.
Mahfud explained that under newer regulations in the reformasi era, criminal acts committed by military members outside of military duties should be tried in general courts.
“This is in the TNI law, the defence law, and in the debates about building or reforming the TNI. So it should be in the general court,” said Mahfud.
In fact, this change has long been mandated, but it has not been realised for more than 20 years.
“But there is indeed a transitional article there, transferring the military court’s authority for military personnel who commit crimes outside the military field, which can be done after amendments to the military court law,” he emphasised.
“Well, the military court law that officially transfers this has not been enacted until now. That means it’s been more than 20 years. More than 20 years, and it’s not being worked on, even though it was ordered about 22 years ago, and it’s still not being addressed,” he added.
He assessed that the stagnation of this revision is more due to political factors.