Indonesian Military Court Reduces Sentences and Reinstates Soldiers in Activist Acid Attack Case
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The Jakarta High Military Court II-06 reduced prison sentences and reinstated two Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel convicted of carrying out an acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus. The appellate court cut Second Sergeant Edi Sudarko’s prison term from three years down to two years and six months. First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono saw his sentence reduced from two years and six months to two years. Both soldiers also had their dismissals from military service overturned, allowing them to return to active duty. Meanwhile, the appeal court left two other sentences untouched. Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya remains sentenced to two years, and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka faces one year and six months. All four defendants were originally convicted of premeditated assault causing injury.
## Medical Impact and Independent Investigations
The victim, Andrie Yunus, serves as deputy coordinator for the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence, known as KontraS. Medical testimony presented at trial established that Yunus suffered deep burns covering roughly 20 percent of his body after being doused with acid on 12 March 2026. The attack occurred shortly after he attended a podcast discussion at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation in Central Jakarta. Medical staff confirmed that the assault caused permanent damage to his right eye, which can now only perceive light. Legal representatives from the Advocacy Team for Democracy challenged the official prosecution narrative that the crime stemmed from a personal vendetta. According to independent investigations by the defense team, more than 16 individuals took part in surveying, preparing, and executing the assault. The team maintains the attack operated as a coordinated intelligence mission, though the military tribunal rejected that characterisation.
## Institutional Pushback and Next Legal Steps
Civil society groups swiftly condemned the appeal outcome. The Coalition of Civil Society for Security Sector Reform issued a statement rejecting the verdict as disproportionate to the severity of the violence and the ongoing suffering inflicted on Yunus. The coalition urged the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission to review the appeal proceedings and legal reasoning with full transparency. Government officials also weighed in on the appellate decision. Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai stated that while the government respects judicial authority, the legal process must account for social sensitivity and justice from the victim’s viewpoint. Pigai suggested that the victim’s legal counsel file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court and explore avenues for a judicial review. He added that dismissal from the military remains appropriate for personnel proven responsible, given the criminal nature of the assault and the resulting damage to the state and the Strategic Intelligence Agency. The South Jakarta District Court partially granted a pre-trial application on 2 June 2026, directing the Metro Jaya Police to press forward with investigations into the broader conspiracy. No public updates regarding the status of that police directive have been released.