TAUD: 2.5-Year Sentence for TNI Soldiers Involved in Acid Attack Undermines Justice

The Advocacy for Democracy Team (TAUD) has assessed that the 2.5-year prison sentence sought against four Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers, defendants in the acid attack case against KontraS activist Andrie Yunus, falls far short of justice for the victim. TAUD also believes the sentencing reinforces the stigma of impunity within the military justice jurisdiction when adjudicating its own members involved in serious crimes against civilians.

“This demand is far from the sense of justice for the victim, and the scent of impunity is strong. Unfortunately, this is the stigma that persists within the military justice jurisdiction when judging its own members involved in serious crimes against civilians,” TAUD stated in a written release on Wednesday (3/6).

Furthermore, TAUD highlighted the absence of additional demands for dismissal from military service for the defendants. According to the group, this raises questions regarding the seriousness of the TNI institution in taking action against soldiers who commit unlawful acts against civilians.

Additionally, TAUD expressed regret over the military prosecutor’s request to destroy evidence in the case. They believe such a move could hinder the law enforcement process, which is deemed to be incomplete. “The absence of material evidence, which was previously held by the Metro Jaya Regional Police but handed over to the TNI Military Police (Puspom TNI) and subsequently submitted by the military prosecutor to the Jakarta Military Court, will hinder the investigation ordered by the pre-trial judge,” said TAUD.

Previously, the military prosecutor sought a 2.5-year prison sentence for the four TNI soldiers accused of the acid attack on Andrie Yunus. The sentencing hearing was held at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Wednesday (3/6). The four defendants are Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, Lieutenant One Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, and Lieutenant One Sami Lakka.

During the trial, the military prosecutor stated that the defendants were proven guilty of splashing acid on Andrie Yunus. The defendants were found to have violated Article 467, Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023.