In a Jakarta military courtroom, the motive for a brutal acid attack on a prominent human rights defender was revealed not as a political conspiracy or a strategic operation, but as a reaction to what a soldier deemed “overacting.”
Sersan Dua Edi Sudarko, a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) assigned to the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), testified on Wednesday, May 13, that his decision to target Andrie Yunus was fueled by a perceived lack of respect. Yunus, the Vice Coordinator for External Affairs at the Commission for Disappeared Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), had previously interrupted a closed-door meeting regarding the Revision of the TNI Law (RUU TNI) in March 2025.
The testimony, delivered at Military Court II-08 Jakarta, paints a chilling picture of how a viral video and a perceived slight to military “dignity” escalated into a coordinated violent assault. The case has since become a flashpoint for debates over military impunity and the safety of civil society actors in Indonesia.
“I felt annoyed seeing in the video that Andrie Yunus was arrogant, overacting, and had no manners,” Sudarko told the court. “I considered it as stepping on the dignity of the TNI.”
The ‘Overacting’ Motive and the Path to Violence
The catalyst for the attack was a meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in March 2025, where Yunus and a coalition of security sector civil society members challenged the proceedings of the TNI Law revision. While the event occurred a year prior to the attack, the video of the interruption continued to circulate on social media, eventually reaching Sudarko.
Court records indicate that the planning for the assault began on Monday, March 9, 2026. Following congregational prayers at the Al Ikhlas Mosque, Sudarko expressed his anger to his roommate, Letnan Satu Budhi Hariyanto Widhi. The two agreed to discuss the matter further in the privacy of their military barracks (mes).
By March 11, the conspiracy expanded. Sudarko shared the viral video with two other officers, Kapten Nandala Dwi Prasetyo and Letnan Satu Sami Lakka. During this gathering, Sudarko admitted he initially wanted to physically beat Yunus. However, it was Budhi Hariyanto Widhi who suggested a more permanent and devastating alternative: spraying him with a rust-removal chemical.
| Date | Event | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| March 2025 | RUU TNI Meeting | Andrie Yunus interrupts closed-door session at Hotel Fairmont. |
| March 9, 2026 | Initial Intent | Sersan Dua Edi Sudarko expresses anger to Letnan Satu Budhi. |
| March 11, 2026 | Planning Phase | Conspiracy expands to include Kapten Nandala and Letnan Satu Sami. |
| March 12, 2026 | The Assault | Yunus sprayed with acid near the YLBHI office in Jakarta. |
Execution of the Attack
On the night of Thursday, March 12, 2026, the group executed their plan near the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI). Sudarko and Budhi, riding a motorcycle provided by Kapten Nandala, approached Yunus and sprayed the corrosive liquid directly into his face.
When questioned by the military prosecutor (Oditur) regarding whether he understood the consequences of using acid, Sudarko claimed he did not know the extent of the damage it would cause. He testified that he simply agreed to the plan proposed by Budhi without questioning the severity of the chemical’s effects.
Despite the brutality of the act, the defendants are currently charged with assault (penganiayaan) rather than premeditated attempted murder. They are facing charges under Article 469 paragraph 1, subsidiary Article 468 paragraph 1, and further subsidiary Article 467 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of Law Number 1 of 2023 (the new Criminal Code/KUHP).
A Crisis of Trust in Military Justice
The legal proceedings have been overshadowed by a profound lack of trust between the victim’s camp and the military justice system. Andrie Yunus has not been examined by investigators, as he remains under intensive care at the National General Hospital (RSUPN) Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM) in Jakarta.
While the judges of Military Court II-08 expressed a desire to hear Yunus’s testimony, his legal team—the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD)—has vehemently rejected the request. The refusal is rooted in a systemic concern over “impunity,” with TAUD arguing that military courts are unfit to try soldiers who commit general crimes against civilians.
The tension highlights a long-standing friction in Indonesia: the demand for soldiers who commit civilian crimes to be tried in general district courts rather than internal military tribunals, which critics argue often result in lighter sentencing.
Disclaimer: This report covers ongoing legal proceedings. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The court is expected to continue hearings to determine the final sentencing for the four soldiers involved. The next critical checkpoint will be the submission of the prosecution’s final demands (requisitoir), which will clarify whether the military will push for maximum sentencing under the new Criminal Code.
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