Questions Raised by Judge in Andrie Yunus Acid Attack Trial

The Jakarta Military Court panel of judges questioned several matters in the trial of the acid attack case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. The judge raised issues regarding the defendants’ relationship with Andrie and CCTV footage.

As is known, the military prosecutor charged four TNI soldiers with throwing acid on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. The military prosecutor stated that the defendants carried out the act due to annoyance with Andrie.

The indictment hearing was held at the East Jakarta Military Court on Wednesday (29/4/2026). The four defendants are Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko (ES), First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi (BHW), Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo (NDP), and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka (SL).

The prosecutor stated that the defendants learned of Andrie on 16 March 2025 when Andrie entered and interrupted a meeting discussing revisions to the TNI Law held by the DPR at the Fairmont Hotel in South Jakarta. The defendants viewed Andrie’s actions as insulting the TNI institution.

The prosecutor said that Serda Edi and Lettu Budhi met at the Al-Ikhlas Mosque of Bais TNI on 9 March 2026. The prosecutor mentioned that Edi showed a viral video of Andrie that was considered to forcibly enter the meeting room at the Fairmont Hotel during discussions on revisions to the TNI Law.

The meeting of the defendants continued on 11 March 2026 at the Denma Bais TNI hall. At that time, said the prosecutor, the first defendant again expressed annoyance towards Andrie, who was seen as accusing the TNI of carrying out terror and being behind the riots at the end of August 2025.

The prosecutor stated that the first defendant wanted to teach Andrie a lesson as a deterrent effect. Then, the second defendant suggested the idea of throwing rust remover liquid.

In short, the defendants gathered information on Andrie Yunus’s activities. They divided tasks during the acid throwing.

Questions on Defendants’ Account Regarding the Corrosive Liquid

The Jakarta Military Court panel of judges requested that the prosecutor present a chemistry expert in the acid attack trial against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus. The judge said that expert testimony is important to prove the defendants’ statements regarding the type of liquid thrown at Andrie.

This was stated by the chief judge, Colonel Chk Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto, at the Jakarta Military Court on Wednesday (6/5/2026). The four defendants in this case are defendant I Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, defendant II First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, defendant III Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, and defendant IV First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.

In this hearing, the military prosecutor presented Pabandya D 31 Pampers Dit B Bais TNI, Lieutenant Colonel Chk Alwi Hakim Nasution, as a witness. Alwi is a TNI member who conducted the in-depth investigation or elicitation of the defendants.

“After that, they admitted that the act was indeed carried out, the throwing was done by Defendant I, Defendant II who was riding pillion, Defendants III and IV accompanying from behind,” said Alwi.

“Did they tell what they threw?” asked the judge.

“They told that they threw it at Mr Andrie Yunus,” replied Alwi.

The judge then asked about the defendants’ admission regarding the liquid thrown at Andrie Yunus. Alwi said the defendants admitted to throwing a mixture of rust remover liquid and car battery acid.

“What liquid did they throw?” asked the judge.

“Rust remover liquid, according to their admission to us,” replied Alwi.

“Mixed with?” asked the judge.

“Car battery acid water,” replied Alwi.

The judge said that the content of the liquid needs to be explained in court. The judge ordered the military prosecutor to present a chemistry expert in the trial.

“That is whose responsibility, the prosecutor or the legal counsel to present. I request that it be presented later for these liquids. The battery acid and what was it, rust remover. Now, if mixed, what does it contain, and then what is the reaction if it hits the skin, if it hits clothes. An expert, meaning. We need an expert in the field. A chemist, yes. Chemistry or acid expert. Yes, a chemist. Yes, that from the prosecutor, it seems necessary,” said the judge.

“Yes, Your Honour,” replied the prosecutor.

“Have you thought of that?” asked the judge.

“Yes, already,” replied the prosecutor.

The judge said that a chemistry expert who can explain the reaction of the mixture of rust remover liquid and car battery acid. The judge said that the reaction and the level of danger of the liquid mixture need to be explained in court.

“How do we determine its content, what it is like, and then what the reaction is if it hits the skin. Whether it is dangerous, fatal, or not. Well, the expert knows that, we can’t,” said the judge.

Questions on Defendants’ Relationship with Andrie Yunus

Alwi explained the condition of the burns turning black experienced by Edi and Budhi. Alwi was the personnel who conducted the initial in-depth investigation of the two defendants on 17 March.

“We kept asking, for Defendant I we suspected, we asked him to open his shirt and we saw there was a black burn on the right chest. For Defendant II, we only saw on the right hand,” said Alwi.

The judge continued to ask what the defendants’ admissions were during the initial investigation. Alwi said the defendants admitted to throwing acid at Andrie because they were annoyed with the interruption incident at the meeting on the TNI Bill at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, which occurred in 2025.

“What is their business with Andrie Yunus? What is their business with the TNI Bill? What is their business with filing a judicial review to the MK? What is the correlation for them to do that? They are just Denma soldiers,” asked the judge.

“Their admission to us was because they were hurt seeing Andrie Yunus’s treatment when forcing entry into the closed meeting, so the defendants felt hurt,” replied Alwi.

Questions on Special Operations

The judge then asked whether there was an order that led the defendants to carry out the acid throwing. The judge also asked whether there was a special operation behind the acid throwing at Andrie Yunus.

“That’s not what I mean. They have no connection with AY. They didn’t know him initially, only knew from TV, right. Just like us. Never knew, only knew from TV. Why suddenly-”