An Indonesian military court sentenced four soldiers to prison on June 10, 2026, after finding them guilty of a premeditated acid attack that left human-rights activist Andrie Yunus blind in one eye. The terms ranged from 18 months to three years, and two of the defendants were also dismissed from military service.
Edi Sudarko, Budi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, Nandala Dwi Prasetya and Sami Lakka were members of the military's Strategic Intelligence Agency, known as BAIS. They were arrested soon after the March attack. BAIS chief Yudi Abrimantyo later stepped down in what officials described as an acceptance of responsibility.
Yunus, 27, is a deputy coordinator at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, or KontraS. The organization campaigns against the expanding role of Indonesia's armed forces in civilian affairs. Yunus was attacked while riding his motorcycle in Jakarta after recording a podcast about the military's influence.
Military prosecutors argued that the four men acted on their own initiative rather than under orders. They said the soldiers were angered by Yunus and another activist interrupting a legislator's meeting in 2025 to oppose changes to the armed-forces law. Parliament later approved an amendment allowing active-duty personnel to serve in 14 ministries and state institutions, an increase from 10.
Prosecutor Wasinton Marpaung characterized the attack as an extrajudicial act of revenge and requested terms of two and a half years for each defendant. Presiding judge Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto described the soldiers' conduct as arrogant. Another judge, Mokhamad Zainal Abidin, said their intention had been to teach Yunus a lesson for what they perceived as disrespect toward the military.
The proceedings drew criticism over both jurisdiction and scope. Yunus, other advocates and United Nations human-rights experts had sought a civilian trial, arguing that a military hearing risked concealing responsibility. Yunus did not attend, citing his health and distrust of the court.
Amnesty International Indonesia head Usman Hamid said the outcome minimized the seriousness and lasting effects of the attack. He also said it failed to address findings from independent inquiries alleging that at least 14 people were involved or to examine a possible chain of command. Amnesty called the trial a whitewash; those criticisms were the group's assessment, not a ruling by the court.
The case unfolded amid wider debate over Indonesia's security institutions. Critics also opposed a newly approved revision of the national police law, saying it could expand police power within government. The convictions imposed penalties on four identified soldiers, but the available reporting did not establish who, if anyone, planned or directed the attack beyond them.
