Indonesia: Conviction of military personnel falls short in delivering full accountability in Andrie Yunus case

Paris-Geneva, 12 June 2026. On 10 June 2026, the Jakarta Military Court sentenced four navy and air force officers assigned to the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to prison terms for their involvement in the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), which occurred on 12 March 2026.

The Court found the four defendants guilty of premeditated assault resulting in serious injury, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 12 years' imprisonment under Indonesia's Criminal Code. Navy officers Sgt. Edi Sudarko and First Lt. Budi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono were sentenced to three years and to two years and six months in prison, respectively. Navy officer Capt. Nandala Dwi Prasetia and Air Force officer Lt. Sami Lakka were sentenced to two years and to one year and six months in prison, respectively. This conviction followed the military prosecutor's request, on 3 June 2026, for prison sentences of two years and six months for each of the four defendants.

The Observatory believes that the sentences imposed are not proportionate to the gravity of the attack and the severe injuries suffered by Andrie Yunus. In addition, the proceedings focused exclusively on the four direct perpetrators and failed to comprehensively examine evidence pointing to the possible involvement of additional actors.

According to findings released in March 2026 by Indonesian civil society's Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), the attack may have involved a broader network of individuals - including surveillance operatives, trackers, site scouts, and a field coordinator - suggesting a considerable degree of planning and coordination, rather than an isolated action perpetrated by a small group of persons.

The military court's trial also failed to address broader questions regarding the hierarchical responsibility of the superiors of the four perpetrators.

The Observatory recalls that on 12 March 2026, two individuals attacked Andrie Yunus by throwing acid at him while he was riding his motorcycle in Central Jakarta after leaving the office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), where he had recorded a podcast discussing remilitarisation and democratic oversight of the armed forces. The attack caused severe burns affecting the right side of his body - particularly his face, eye, neck, chest - and both hands. Medical examinations confirmed severe chemical trauma to his right eye, including significant corneal damage, requiring multiple medical procedures and prolonged hospitalisation. The attack ultimately left Mr. Yunus blind in one eye.

The Observatory recalls that Andrie Yunus and his legal representatives repeatedly called for the case to be heard before an ordinary civilian court rather than a military court, expressing concerns that military jurisdiction would be unable to guarantee independence and impartiality in a case involving military personnel accused of a serious attack against a civilian human rights defender.

These concerns were echoed by United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders and on freedom of opinion and expression, who on 3 June 2026, expressed concern over the military jurisdiction in the case, warning that it could perpetuate impunity and hinder full accountability.

The Observatory urges the Indonesian authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial, and independent investigations into the attack against Mr. Yunus, with a view to identify all individuals involved in the planning, coordinating, ordering, supporting, or financing the attack, and to determine whether criminal responsibility extends beyond the four direct perpetrators.