Military Prosecutor: Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus was an Act of Revenge
The Military Prosecutor II-08 Jakarta, in its indictment, categorised the acid attack by four members of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) Detasemen Markas against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus as a form of extra-legal revenge.
“The actions of the Defendants are a form of extra-legal revenge, resulting in physical suffering for the victim and reputational damage to the TNI institution that is very difficult to recover from, both nationally and internationally,” stated the Prosecutor during a session at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Wednesday (3/6).
Based on the legal facts revealed during the trial, the Prosecutor concluded that the Defendants’ actions are punishable under Article 467, paragraph 1 in conjunction with paragraph 2, and Article 20, letter C of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP). This article regulates premeditated assault, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 4 years (paragraph 1) and 7 years (paragraph 2).
“This action is a qualified offence due to the element of premeditation, which increases the degree of punishment,” the Prosecutor added.
The Prosecutor has requested the panel of judges at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta to sentence the Defendants to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The four BAIS TNI soldiers facing trial are Defendant I Sergeant Edi Sudarko, Defendant II First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Defendant III Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, and Defendant IV First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.
The Defendants are alleged to have poured acid due to resentment, anger, or negative sentiment towards Andrie, who was perceived to have insulted the dignity of the TNI following an interruption during a closed-door meeting with the TNI at the Fairmont Hotel regarding the TNI Bill revision in March 2025.
In this legal process, Andrie, as the victim, has not yet been examined because he remains under intensive care at RSCM Jakarta. While the investigators and military prosecutors appear to be accelerating the case proceedings, the panel of judges expressed a desire to hear testimony from Andrie. However, as he is not included in the case files, his capacity is limited to that of an additional witness.
This decision was strongly opposed by Andrie and his legal counsel from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), who expressed distrust in a military court presiding over soldiers committing general criminal offences, citing concerns over impunity.
According to RSCM reports, Andrie’s activities remain restricted. He is currently under the monitoring and care of a multidisciplinary medical team, including specialists in reconstructive plastic surgery, ophthalmology, and psychiatry, to ensure optimal recovery. RSCM stated that, based on professional medical considerations, Andrie is in a post-operative recovery phase and requires periodic evaluation of his wound healing and ocular condition.