Ministry of Human Rights Urges TNI and Police to Coordinate on Acid Attack Case
The handling of the acid attack case against Kontras Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus remains unresolved. Meanwhile, there are differences in the identities of the perpetrators from the investigations conducted by the TNI and the police in that case.
Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance, Ministry of Human Rights, Munafrizal Manan, assesses that the handling of the case has the potential to create legal complications and complexities that could impact the quality of law enforcement and human rights. The potential legal complications and complexities primarily concern the absolute competence of the court that will examine and decide on the case.
“To mitigate this potential, the TNI and Polri need to immediately coordinate and synchronise. Do not let public perception arise that there is dualism and competition between the TNI and Polri in handling this case,” he said in his statement on Thursday (26/3/2026).
He explained that currently, the police have examined witnesses and possess evidence of the incident. On the other hand, the TNI Military Police Centre (Puspom) has also detained and designated suspect status to four alleged perpetrators, all members of the Intelligence Strategic Body Headquarters Detachment (Denma BAIS TNI).
According to Munafrizal, this situation will create a legal anomaly if there is a law enforcement agency that has witnesses and evidence but no suspects. Conversely, there is another law enforcement agency that has suspects but lacks or has minimal witnesses and evidence.
Therefore, he added, coordination and synchronisation between the TNI and Polri must be carried out immediately. This is to clarify which court will examine and adjudicate this case, whether the general court or the military court.
He further added that several parties have voiced that the case should be examined and adjudicated in the general court. The reason is none other than to investigate the case thoroughly as it is, not limited to the field perpetrators but also the intellectual masterminds.
“The TNI and Polri need to promptly state their position regarding the provisions on connected cases in examining and adjudicating this case as regulated in Chapter XII Articles 170–172 of Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). This is important to prevent two different judicial institutions from enforcing criminal law independently handling the same criminal case with identical substance at the same time,” he said.
It is known that the TNI Puspom stated that the four alleged perpetrators of the acid attack on Kontras Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus are members of Denma BAIS TNI. The four individuals are initialled Captain NDP, Lieutenant SL, Lieutenant BHW, and Sergeant ES.
On the other hand, the Metro Jaya Police stated two alleged perpetrators with different initials. The initials of the alleged perpetrators revealed by the Metro Jaya Police are BHC and MAK.