Novel Baswedan Strongly Criticises Military Judge and Former BAIS Head Over Andrie Yunus Case
Former senior Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan has strongly criticised the ongoing legal proceedings in the acid attack case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus at the Military Court II-08 in Jakarta.
Novel stated that the process entirely disregards Andrie’s rights as a victim of the acid attack by TNI soldiers.
“I am deeply concerned about the judge’s attitude, which shows no concern or bias towards the victim, and even worse, it seems to defend or lean towards the perpetrator of the crime. This is what I find most distressing,” Novel said after visiting Andrie at the National General Hospital Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/5).
As someone who has also been attacked with acid, Novel explained that such an assault is a very serious crime. He knows firsthand the immense pain caused by acid.
Based on this, Novel also criticised the statement by former Head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Soleman B. Ponto, during the trial on Thursday (7/5), who described the acid attack on Andrie as merely mischief by trained personnel, not an intelligence operation.
“This way of thinking is, in my view, distressing, and I reiterate that being doused with acid is extremely painful, with severe injuries. It means the act is serious and very grave,” Novel said.
Novel, now a civil servant with the National Police (Polri), hopes the public still sees Andrie as a good person fighting for the interests of many.
“Don’t let it be disrupted by things that hinder or impede his recovery efforts, especially matters unrelated to his interests,” he said.
“The point is, I hope Andrie Yunus truly receives the best recovery process, heals quickly, and although full recovery like before may not be possible, I hope for maximum healing, and no steps or actions that corner or pressure Andrie Yunus further with things not favouring the victim,” he added.
RSCM stated that the activities of Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator for External Affairs of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), remain limited.
Andrie is currently under monitoring and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical team consisting of specialists in plastic reconstructive surgery, ophthalmology, psychiatry, and other related healthcare professionals to ensure optimal and continuous recovery.
RSCM conveyed that, based on professional medical considerations both physically and psychologically, the patient is still in the post-follow-up surgery recovery phase and requires periodic evaluations of wound healing and eye condition.
Andrie is deemed capable of adapting well to his physical condition and surroundings and is cooperative during treatment. Psychological support continues routinely to aid the patient’s overall recovery.
Background of the case
Andrie Yunus was doused with acid by TNI soldiers on the night of 12 March 2026 after speaking at a podcast at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office titled “Remilitarisation & Judicial Review of the TNI Law”.
The four TNI soldiers responsible for the acid attack are currently on trial at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta.
They are Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.
According to the prosecutor, the motive for the acid attack was that the defendants harboured a grudge against Andrie for successfully interrupting a parliamentary meeting discussing revisions to the TNI Law held at the Fairmont Hotel in South Jakarta in March 2025.
“With that incident, the defendants considered Andrie Yunus to have insulted the TNI institution, even trampling on the TNI institution,” the prosecutor said while reading the indictment in a previous hearing.
The defendants are charged with violating Article 469 paragraph 1 subsidiary Article 468 paragraph 1 further subsidiary Article 467 paragraph 1 in conjunction with paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.