Yusril Responds to Verdict on Andrie Yunus Attacker: A Lesson for Other TNI Personnel

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated that the government respects the ruling of the Jakarta II-08 Military Court’s panel of judges against four Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers who attacked activist Andrie Yunus. According to Yusril, the ruling was based on the legal facts of the trial without any intervention. “The government fully respects the decision handed down by the panel of judges. This verdict is a manifestation of judicial independence in upholding the law based on the facts revealed during the trial, without intervention from any party,” Yusril said in a press statement on Wednesday evening. Yusril opined that the legal considerations used by the panel of judges demonstrated a careful assessment of each defendant’s level of involvement and culpability. “I appreciate the panel of judges’ decision to impose varying sentences, considering the Military Prosecutor’s demands according to the severity of the defendants’ crimes. In fact, there was an ultra petita ruling, or one exceeding the demand, which sentenced one of the defendants to three years in prison,” he said. “This is important so that it becomes a lesson for other TNI personnel not to repeat similar criminal acts.” Yusril added that the government also welcomed the panel of judges’ decision to impose an additional penalty of dismissal from military service on two of the defendants. He said this step sends a firm message that state institutions do not tolerate acts of violence and abuse of authority. “There is no place for individual officers who commit anarchist acts, violate the law, or use violence to silence others. State institutions must be clean of behaviour that harms public trust and the principles of the rule of law,” he asserted. Yusril further claimed the government is committed to protecting freedom of expression and ensuring a healthy democratic space for all citizens. Civil society activists and human rights organisations, he explained, play a vital role in overseeing the running of democracy and law enforcement. “Activists, including Andrie Yunus and civil society organisations like KontraS, are part of the democratic ecosystem that must be respected. The government rejects all forms of intimidation, physical violence, and retaliatory acts outside legal mechanisms against citizens who voice criticism or opinions,” Yusril said. Additionally, Yusril expressed deep concern over the impact suffered by Andrie as a result of the acid attack, including serious injuries causing permanent damage to his right eye. “Justice is not only measured by the punishment handed down to the perpetrators, but also by the attention given to the victim’s recovery. The government hopes the victim’s rights to recovery and protection will continue to be observed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he said. He assured that the government will continue to promote fair, transparent, and accountable law enforcement for every legal violation, regardless of the perpetrator’s background. “Indonesia is a state of law. Everyone has equal standing before the law and every violation must be processed through the prevailing legal mechanisms,” Yusril stated. “This verdict is a reminder that acts of violence and vigilantism cannot be justified in a democratic state that upholds law and human rights.” The panel of judges at the Jakarta II-08 Military Court handed down prison sentences to four defendants in the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus. Defendant I, Second Sergeant Edi Sudarko, was sentenced to 3 years in prison; Defendant II, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison; Defendant III, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, was sentenced to 2 years in prison; and Defendant IV, First Lieutenant Sami Lakka, was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison. Defendant I and Defendant II acted as the executors who threw the acid on Andrie. The judges considered the degree of fault and the nature of the actions of Defendant III and Defendant IV, thus imposing lighter sentences, even though their rank was higher than the other two defendants. Furthermore, the judges also imposed an additional penalty of dismissal from military service on Defendant I and Defendant II. The defendants were found guilty of violating Article 467 paragraph 1 in conjunction with paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The article regulates premeditated maltreatment, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 4 years and 7 years. The verdict has not yet become legally binding as the Military Prosecutor and the defendants stated they would use the 7-day period to consider their options.