Military charges Indonesian soldiers in acid attack on activist

A Jakarta military court has opened trial proceedings against four Indonesian service members accused in the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus.

Prosecutors charged the defendants with serious premeditated assault, a charge that carries a possible maximum sentence of 12 years. Reporting identified the four defendants as Edi Sudarko, Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, Nandala Dwi Prasetya and Sami Lakka.

The attack took place on March 12, 2026, and Yunus suffered severe burns and lasting eye injury. He is an activist with KontraS and has criticized the military’s expanding role in government, making the case politically sensitive.

The court session on April 29 marks the start of the formal trial, with the next hearing scheduled for May 6. Human rights groups are calling for a broader investigation and more transparency, including whether anyone beyond the four defendants may have been involved.

Prosecutors say the four acted without official orders, while rights groups argue the case may point to a wider chain of command. The proceedings will be closely watched both for the evidence presented and for whether the military justice system remains the forum for the case.