Military Judges Deplore Andrie Yunus’s Refusal to Testify in Acid Attack Trial

The panel of judges at Military Court II-08 Jakarta has expressed regret that Andrie Yunus declined to testify during the trial concerning the acid attack against him. Panel member Navy Legal Major Zainal Abidin stated the proceedings were fundamentally conducted in Andrie’s interest as the victim whose rights had been violated by the defendants’ actions. “The panel initially hoped that Mr Andrie Yunus could attend in person to provide testimony in an open court session so we could fully explore and obtain comprehensive legal facts,” Judge Zainal said while reading the verdict on Wednesday. The judge revealed the court wished to examine the circumstances surrounding Andrie before, during, and after the incident, details known exclusively to him as the victim. The panel’s good faith, however, was not reciprocated. According to testimony from the head of Andrie’s medical team, Dr Parintosa Atmodiwirjo, once Andrie was receiving outpatient care, providing testimony online was feasible. “Yet in this matter, right up until the evidentiary examination was closed, there was no goodwill from Mr Andrie Yunus,” Judge Zainal said. Initially, the panel took an understanding view, but beyond neglecting his obligation, Andrie was seen as conveying an adversarial stance towards the trial and creating a negative stigma by displaying distrust in the military court process. The panel further noted Andrie appeared to have belittled the lawful process provided by the state and concluded his attitude had undermined the court’s authority. In the assault case, four defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from one year and six months to three years. Second Sergeant Edi Sudarko received three years, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi two years and six months, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya two years, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka one year and six months. Edi and Budhi were additionally dismissed from military service. The four TNI personnel were proven to have thrown acid on Andrie with the intent of teaching him a lesson and creating a deterrent effect so he would stop disparaging the TNI institution. They were also angered by Andrie’s legal challenge against the TNI Law at the Constitutional Court, his accusations that the TNI intimidated or terrorised the KontraS office, and claims he was the mastermind behind the late August 2025 riots while actively pushing an anti-militarism narrative. The court determined that the soldiers’ premeditated act of throwing acid, knowing it could cause severe burns, was conduct unbecoming of TNI members. The four defendants were found guilty of violating Article 467 paragraph (1) in conjunction with paragraph (2) jo. Article 20 letter C of the National Criminal Code.