UNY Student Who Burnt Police Tent Sentenced to Five Months, Released Immediately
The panel of judges at Sleman District Court handed down a five-month and three-day prison sentence to Perdana Arie Putra Veriasa, a Yogyakarta State University (UNY) student charged with setting fire to a tent at the Yogyakarta Regional Police headquarters during the wave of protests in August 2025.
“[The defendant is] lawfully and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act that caused a fire, thereby endangering public safety for persons or property, as set out in the first alternative charge of the Public Prosecutor,” said Presiding Judge Ari Prabawa as he read out the verdict on Monday (23 February).
The panel found that the defendant’s actions fulfilled the elements of Article 308, paragraph 1 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
“The court therefore sentences the defendant to imprisonment for five months and three days,” he continued.
Perdana Arie’s sentence has been fully served, as he had been in custody since his arrest and detention in September 2025. He was consequently released immediately. The sentence was considerably lighter than the one-year prison term sought by the prosecution.
In reaching its verdict, the panel considered aggravating factors, including the impact of the offence on the public, victims, and the state, as well as the damage to Yogyakarta Regional Police, as the burnt tent was a police asset.
Among the mitigating factors, the court noted the defendant’s motive as a form of protest and a struggle for justice over the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan.
“Although the defendant’s actions resulted in the police tent being burnt, the damage caused by the fire was not proportionate to the defendant’s purpose, namely the struggle for justice over the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan,” said Ari.
Furthermore, the defendant’s role in the tent burning was not particularly significant. Based on trial evidence, Perdana Arie merely sprinkled fire on the eastern side of the tent, and expert testimony from a chemist confirmed the tent contained anti-UV coating material.
“When cross-referenced with CCTV footage, the fire was able to completely consume the tent due to another source on the southern side, and other members of the crowd also set fire to the tent. Therefore, the punishment imposed on the defendant must be proportionate to his role,” Ari explained.
Ari also took into account the defendant’s background as a campus activist frequently involved in academic student activities, student seminars, and advocacy on issues of injustice in the country. The defendant had also behaved well throughout the trial proceedings and showed potential to become a more positive individual. He had never previously been involved in any violent actions.
In response to the verdict, Perdana Arie, through his legal counsel, stated that he accepted the ruling. The prosecution, meanwhile, indicated it would consider its position.
The verdict was greeted with cheers from Perdana Arie’s supporters who filled the courtroom. Among those present was Busyro Muqoddas, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Board and former Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), who had served as guarantor for the defendant’s detention suspension.
Busyro remarked that the verdict still carried a measure of justice given the various mitigating considerations. Nevertheless, he maintained that Perdana Arie should ideally have been acquitted.
“The background to this case is political — the demonstration of 25 August last year. Considering that Affan Kurniawan died in an extremely tragic manner at the hands of security forces via a Mobile Brigade vehicle, this was a political event. And to this day, as long as our political culture remains as it is, with so many dark aspects, do not expect political events like this to be handled properly in Indonesia,” he said.