National Police Chief Receives Presidential Order to Thoroughly Investigate Caustic Soda Attack on KontraS Activist

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has reaffirmed the commitment of the Indonesian National Police to resolve the case of a caustic soda attack against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. General Sigit stated that he has received a direct order from President Prabowo Subianto to investigate the matter.

“Regarding developments in the attack on the activist, I have received a direct order from the President to conduct a thorough investigation in a professional and transparent manner,” General Sigit told reporters after inspecting passenger flows at Gubeng Grand Station in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

General Sigit explained that the police would employ scientific methods to uncover the case. Information gathering is being continuously conducted by field teams.

“The steps we are taking will certainly prioritise scientific crime investigation. We are currently gathering information, and that information will subsequently be examined one by one,” he said.

General Sigit added that the police force has been mobilised under the coordination of the National Police Headquarters and the Metro Jaya Regional Police. Updates on the case will be provided to the public on a regular basis.

Previously, the incident in which caustic soda was poured on KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus occurred on Salemba Street in Central Jakarta on the evening of 12 March. The victim sustained burns covering 24 per cent of his body after being doused by two unknown men riding a motorcycle.

The case has provoked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including from former KPK leadership Novel Baswedan and former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, who visited the victim in hospital.