Panic: Acid Attack Perpetrators Allegedly Intentionally Spread AI-Edited Photos

Jakarta Metro Police have stated that perpetrators of the acid attack on KontraS deputy coordinator Andrie Yunus are suspected of deliberately spreading AI-edited photo images to social media.

Director of General Criminal Investigation at Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier General Iman Imanuddin, stated that this occurred because the perpetrators began to panic after CCTV video footage circulated on social media.

“The perpetrators and their network appear to be in panic and are attempting to obscure the investigation process by distributing AI-manipulated images or fabrications,” he stated during a press conference on Monday (16 March).

He noted that the syndicate then spread AI-edited photos to influence public sentiment and alter the original image of the acid attack perpetrator.

“We can confirm that the photos are hoaxes, as they are the result of AI fabrication. We suspect this is one of the network’s and perpetrator’s attempts to obscure information and distort the direction of the legal facts obtained,” he stated.

Andrie Yunus became the victim of an acid attack in the central Jakarta area on Thursday evening (12 March).

KontraS coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya stated that the incident occurred after Andrie Yunus attended a podcast event titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), at approximately 23:00 Western Indonesian Time.

“He suffered an acid attack by unknown individuals, resulting in serious injuries across his body, particularly on both hands, face, chest, and eye area,” he stated in a written statement on Friday (13 March).

Following the incident, Andrie was immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment. From the examination results, Andrie suffered burns covering 24 per cent of his body.

Dimas also disclosed characteristics of the suspected perpetrator who first wore a white-and-blue combination t-shirt, dark trousers believed to be jeans, and a black helmet.

Meanwhile, the second perpetrator, the passenger, wore a black buff-like face covering or mask that covered half the face, a dark blue t-shirt, and blue trousers folded into shorts and believed to be made of denim.