TAUD: Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus Meets Elements of Attempted Murder
The Democracy Advocacy Team (TAUD) has criticised police for choosing to apply Article 467(2) or Article 468(1) of the Criminal Code concerning premeditated assault in relation to an acid attack by an Unknown Person (OTK) on Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).
“This only constitutes assault and fails to consider the broader picture—the pattern and alleged systematic and organised nature of the attack, which should be part of the investigators’ legal considerations,” said TAUD representative M. Afif at a press conference at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Central Jakarta on Monday (16 March).
Fadhil Alfathan, another TAUD representative and Director of LBH Jakarta, argued that police should instead apply provisions on attempted premeditated murder. Under the new Criminal Code, premeditated murder carries a death sentence under Article 459, whilst attempted premeditated murder carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment in accordance with Article 17(4).
“We have engaged in discussions with various experts from different disciplines, including criminal law practitioners and forensic medical experts. Our preliminary conclusion is that the attack on our colleague Andrie Yunus constitutes attempted premeditated murder,” Fadhil stated.
He emphasised that two criminal elements—intent to kill and prior planning—have been satisfied. Fadhil explained that the perpetrator was aware of the dangerous tools and method of attack. Caustic acid is a corrosive substance and therefore extremely dangerous.
“By any reasonable assessment, the perpetrator must have known that the substance would be dangerous, particularly when the method involved spraying it on another person,” he said.
Moreover, the attack targeted vital areas including the face and respiratory tract. This could result in fatalities. “The attack occurred whilst Andrie Yunus was driving at night. Spraying caustic acid, a dangerous substance, would certainly create the possibility of a serious traffic accident very likely to cause fatal consequences,” Fadhil stated.
“Therefore, we conclude that the intent or deliberation to spray acid reflects an intent to commit murder,” he added.
Andrie Yunus sustained serious injuries across his body, particularly to both hands, face, chest, and eyes, from the acid attack by an Unknown Person. The incident occurred after Andrie completed recording a podcast at YLBHI titled “Remilitarisation and Judicial Review in Indonesia” at approximately 23:00 on Thursday (12 March).
Following the incident, Andrie was immediately transported to hospital for medical treatment. Medical examination revealed 24 per cent burn injuries. His right eye sustained the most serious damage.
Police suspect the acid attack involved four individuals. This assessment is based on analysis of 86 CCTV cameras and 2,610 videos totalling 10,320 minutes of footage during the investigation.
Directorate of Special Crime (Direskrimum) of Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Iman Imanuddin, stated that CCTV footage showed the four suspected perpetrators waiting for the victim in front of KFC Cikini, Central Jakarta. “It is alleged that four suspected perpetrators using two motorcycles waited for the victim in front of KFC Cikini,” Iman said at a press conference on Monday (16 March).