Yusril Warns Against Acid Attack Trial on Andrie: Do Not Undermine Public Trust
Coordinating Minister for Law and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra has reminded that the trial process for the acid attack case involving four BAIS members on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus at the Jakarta Military Court should not become a spectacle that damages public trust.
He stated that the trial process must demonstrate the state’s authority and the integrity of law enforcement, thereby avoiding negative perceptions in society.
Yusril conveyed this in response to questions regarding statements by the military judges that went viral and sparked controversy.
“Do not let the impression arise that this trial is merely a formality or even a spectacle that damages public trust in the state and law enforcement institutions,” said Yusril in his statement on Friday (8/5).
Yusril stated that the government has a constitutional obligation to uphold the law and maintain public trust in state institutions.
Therefore, he emphasised that a well-conducted, open, and fair judicial process will have a significant impact on the state’s image in the eyes of the public and the international community.
Yusril affirmed that the government hopes the entire trial process will proceed in accordance with criminal procedure law and applicable military criminal code provisions.
“The government, in principle, upholds the independence of the judiciary. The position of the judicial power is independent and must be free from interference or influence by any party, including the Government,” he said.
The acid attack case against Andrie Yunus is being tried at the Jakarta Military Court. There are four TNI BAIS Military Police soldiers as defendants in this case.
They are Defendant I Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, Defendant II First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Defendant III Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo, and Defendant IV First Lieutenant Sami Lakka.
Recently, statements by the military judges at the Jakarta Military Court in the trial of this case have drawn public attention. Video clips of the military judges’ statements have recently gone viral on social media. Many have also criticised those statements.
One criticism came from former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD. He highlighted the judge’s question to the defendants about the reason for using a tumbler or drinking bottle as a container for the rust and car battery cleaner liquid that was thrown at Andrie.
“Is this a fact of the judge’s actions in the trial? Or is it just an AI fabrication? I didn’t get to watch the trial. If this is true, it’s an act by the judge in the trial: Oh Lord, why is our judicial world like this?” said Mahfud, quoted from a tweet on his X account, Friday (8/5).