Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – A defendant in the case involving Indonesia's Strategic Intelligence Agency of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Sergeant Edi Sudarko, told a military court that activist Andrie Yunus was "overreacting" during a past protest, which he said contributed to the decision to carry out an acid attack against him.
Andrie Yunus, an activist from the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was attacked with acid on Jalan Salemba I, Central Jakarta, on March 12, 2026.
Four members of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) are currently on trial at Military Court II-08 Jakarta.
The defendants are Edi Sudarko, First Lieutenant Budhi Hariyanto Widhi (BHW), Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo (NDP), and First Lieutenant Sami Lakka (SL).
During a hearing on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the military judge asked the defendants why they targeted Andrie Yunus. "Because of overacting," Edi replied.
Edi said he was not present at the Hotel Fairmont incident involving Andrie last year, but became angry after watching a video of Andrie interrupting a closed House of Representatives working committee meeting on the revision of Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian Armed Forces.
After seeing the recording, Edi said he showed it to the other defendants.
"I said I was irritated watching the video. Andrie Yunus was arrogant, overacting, and had no manners," he told the court, adding that he considered Andrie's actions an insult to the dignity of the military.
Previously, the head of Military Prosecutor's Office II-07 Jakarta, Colonel Andri Wijaya, said the motive behind the attack was personal revenge.
However, Andrie's legal team from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) rejected this explanation, arguing that the defendants were not present at the Fairmont Hotel incident and therefore questioned the revenge motive, urging investigators to identify the alleged mastermind.
The attack occurred at around 11:37 PM WIB on Jalan Salemba I, Central Jakarta. Andrie suffered serious injuries to multiple parts of his body, particularly his face, chest, both hands, and eye area. Medical assessments indicated burns covering up to 24 percent of his body.
The four defendants are charged under Article 469 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 20(c) of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP), as well as subsidiary charges under Articles 468 and 467 in conjunction with Article 20(c).
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2103485/defendant-andrie-yunus-overacting-led-to-acid-attack-decisio