On April 30, an Indonesian military court sentenced four officers for an acid attack on Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). All defendants were members of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).
The court sentenced Edi Sudarko (45) to three years in prison, Budi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono (43) to two and a half years, Nandala Dwi Prasetia (40) to two years, and Sami Lakka (41) to 18 months. They were convicted of aggravated assault, which carries a maximum penalty of 12 years.
The attack occurred on March 12 as Yunus (27) was riding his motorcycle in the capital Jakarta. Two men on another motorcycle hurled acid at him, leaving him blind in one eye and with burns covering more than 20% of his body and face.
The trial for the four defendants began in April in Jakarta and drew both domestic and international attention. Experts said the soldiers' actions were part of a broader trend of repression as the military increasingly intervenes in civilian life and democracy weakens in Indonesia.
Presiding judge Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto said the defendants had exhibited “arrogant behavior.” Prosecutors argued that the officers were motivated by anger over Yunus’s activities but were not acting under official orders.
The attack sparked widespread outrage, prompting the BAIS chief to resign, though the reason was not announced. The United Nations condemned the incident; Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk called it a “cowardly act of violence,” while Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor described it as “horrific.”
Yunus is a vocal critic of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, particularly the expansion of the military’s role in civilian posts, including last year’s legal changes allowing more active-duty soldiers to hold government positions.
He had requested that the case be tried in a civilian rather than a military court, citing fears of a cover-up, and refused to attend any sessions due to health concerns and lack of trust in the tribunal.
