Ministry of Human Rights Warns of Legal Complexities in Andrie Yunus Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Human Rights has warned of potential legal complexities in handling the acid attack case against activist Andrie Yunus, amid the involvement of civilian and military elements in the ongoing law enforcement process.
Director General of Human Rights Services and Compliance at the Ministry of Human Rights, Munafrizal Manan, stated in Jakarta on Thursday that the case has strong human rights dimensions, requiring careful handling based on human rights principles.
According to him, the widespread attention from national and international human rights institutions is an important indicator that this case cannot be viewed as an ordinary criminal matter.
Munafrizal emphasised that national criminal law must continue to uphold human rights as regulated in Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
He warned of potential complications in the legal process, particularly regarding the absolute jurisdiction of the court that will examine and decide the case.
“Potential complications and legal complexities primarily concern the absolute competence of which court will examine and decide this case. To mitigate this potential, the TNI and Police need to immediately coordinate and synchronise,” he said.
According to him, the current situation shows differences in positions between law enforcement agencies, where the police have witnesses and evidence. Meanwhile, the TNI Military Police Centre has named a suspect and carried out detention.
This situation has the potential to create anomalies in the law enforcement process if not immediately aligned.
Munafrizal emphasised the importance of clarity on the judicial forum, whether the case will be handled through the general court or the military court, to avoid perceptions of dual handling in the public’s eyes.
He mentioned aspirations from various parties, including the victim’s legal counsel, DPR members, and human rights activists, pushing for the case to be tried in the general court to open the possibility of revealing the intellectual actors behind the case.
“The TNI and Police need to quickly state their position regarding the provisions on connected cases in examining and trying this case as regulated in Chapter XII Articles 170-172 of Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code,” he explained.
Furthermore, Munafrizal stated that if there is a difference of views regarding judicial authority, resolution can be sought through the mechanism for jurisdictional disputes at the Supreme Court (MA).
The MA, he said, has the authority to make a final decision regarding which court is entitled to handle the case.
The Ministry of Human Rights emphasises that cross-institutional coordination and legal certainty are key to ensuring the law enforcement process runs transparently, accountably, and upholds human rights principles.