KontraS Questions Delayed Probe into Acid Attack on Andrie Yunus

TheIndonesia.co - The legal process surrounding the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus has been criticised as slow, after 33 days with little progress.

KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya said there has been no clear development in resolving the case in a transparent and accountable manner.

He noted that law enforcement authorities appeared sluggish in pursuing the perpetrators from the outset.

“The state, represented by its law enforcement body, namely the police, appears to be very slow in carrying out the legal process against the perpetrators,” Dimas said in a statement on Thursday (16 April 2026).

He compared the case to the authorities’ response to activists following protests in August 2025, which he described as significantly faster. According to him, the current situation has contributed to the failure to arrest the suspects, despite this falling under police jurisdiction.

Dimas added that the alleged perpetrators were instead initially detained by the Indonesian Military Police (Puspom) at the Armed Forces Headquarters. He warned that this could create a conflict of interest, as the case is being handled within the same institutional framework.

KontraS also highlighted growing public pressure, including a petition signed by more than 3,200 people and supported by over 100 national figures, calling for the case to be tried in a civilian court.

However, Dimas said the calls have yet to receive a serious response from relevant authorities, including the police, the Military Police, the Military Prosecutor’s Office, the President, and Commission III of the House of Representatives.

The organisation further pointed to a broader pattern in military courts. Based on its monitoring, between October 2023 and September 2025, at least 262 soldiers were charged in cases of assault and murder.

“On average, hearings are conducted behind closed doors, with sentences ranging from one to ten months’ imprisonment,” Dimas said.

He argued that such trends indicate military court rulings tend to be lighter and lack public transparency.

KontraS has therefore urged all parties to ensure the legal process is conducted in a transparent, accountable, and credible manner to guarantee justice for the victim.