TNI Launches Investigation into Andrie Yunus Acid Attack Case
The TNI General Headquarters is investigating allegations of military personnel involvement in the caustic acid attack on Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS). Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah, head of the TNI’s Information Centre, stated that the military would investigate suspected involvement of TNI soldiers in the incident.
“We will investigate allegations of TNI soldier involvement,” he said at the TNI Media Hall in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, 17 March 2026.
Aulia said the investigation was responding to public opinion regarding involvement of security personnel. The TNI decided to conduct an internal investigation to prevent such public opinion from further developing. “We are responding to opinions developing in society. Therefore, we must conduct an internal investigation,” he said.
According to him, the TNI can conduct the investigation as it is a law enforcement apparatus. The investigation will involve various units within the TNI. The investigation process will be conducted using TNI’s internal methods. However, Aulia was not yet willing to explain the methods used. “We will conduct it professionally, not hastily,” he said.
Aulia stated that the investigation is currently in process. He assured that the investigation would be conducted professionally and transparently. “In accordance with the applicable regulations within the TNI,” he said.
For him, the process of investigation openness is conducted by inviting journalists to report on the investigation results.
The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), legal representatives for KontraS deputy coordinator Andrie Yunus, previously urged police to uncover the systematic pattern behind the attack against their client. Andrie became a victim of acid pouring by unknown persons on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026.
TAUD representative Fadhil Alfathan suspected that the attackers numbered more than two persons as recorded by CCTV cameras at the time of the incident. “We also believe there is suspected intellectual authorship,” said Fadhil on Monday, 16 March 2026.
According to Fadhil, the acid pouring against Andrie is systematic in nature. The attack was allegedly carried out by a group of people together. The group had a division of labour ranging from surveillance to execution.
Therefore, he requested police not only focus on finding field actors who directly carried out the attack on the victim. But also to find the main perpetrators who had planned the action well in advance.
The head of the General Criminal Investigation Division of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Metro Jaya Police) Regional Command, Senior Commissioner Iman Imanuddin, previously stated that a total of four suspected perpetrators had been traced by investigative teams. The suspects, he said, were allegedly following the victim’s movements since before the incident.
Iman stated that his office continued to conduct a series of in-depth investigations to uncover the case. “We will continue to make maximum efforts and endeavours,” said Iman at a press conference at Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Andrie Yunus was splashed with acid whilst on Jalan Salemba I-Talang, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening, 12 March 2026. Andrie was splashed with hazardous solution by two unknown persons. The two rode motorcycles coming from the opposite direction to Andrie.
The corrosive chemical liquid struck Andrie’s right side of body, including eyes, face, chest, and hands. Part of the victim’s clothing also melted from the acid exposure. Medical examination results showed Andrie suffered serious burns covering 24 percent of his body.