The Jakarta High Military Court II-06 has reduced the prison sentences and revoked the military discharge penalty for two defendants convicted in the acid attack case against Andrie Yunus, according to a Sunday, September 6, 2026, statement from the SETARA Institute.
Court Renders Reduced Sentences and Overturns Dismissals
Under the appeal decision detailed by the SETARA Institute, the appellate judges reduced the first defendant, Serda Edi Sudarko’s, prison term from three years to two years and six months. The second defendant, Lettu Budhi Hariyanto Widhi Cahyono, saw his sentence reduced from two years and six months to two years. Beyond the shortened prison terms, the appellate panel overturned the original dismissal of both officers from military service.
Meanwhile, sentences for the remaining two defendants remained unchanged. Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo received a two-year prison sentence, while the fourth defendant, First Lieutenant Sami Lakka, was sentenced to one year and six months.
SETARA Institute Alleges Perpetuation of Impunity
Responding to the verdict, Hendardi, Chairperson of the SETARA Institute National Council, stated in a written statement that the ruling demonstrates a clear lack of state commitment to delivering justice for the victim. Hendardi asserted that the legal process functions as an instrument to perpetuate impunity and argued that the outcome was predictable from the outset.
According to Hendardi, the reduced sanctions confirm that the legal mechanism fails to penalize offenders adequately. Instead, he maintained that the process risks operating as a means to spread fear among civilians, monitors, and critics who demand accountability from authorities. He further noted that the handling of the case suffered from a foundational flaw, arguing that trying military personnel in a military court creates an inevitable conflict of interest that shields perpetrators and exposes victims to revictimization.
Jurisdictional Shifts and Independent Scrutiny
Law enforcement proceedings for the attack were initially managed by the police within the civilian judicial system. However, the case was subsequently taken over following intervention by the TNI Military Police Center (Puspom TNI) and ultimately transferred to military justice. Hendardi stressed that this jurisdictional shift compromises judicial independence and legal accountability.
The SETARA Institute also criticized authorities for compelling the KontraS activist to testify while still undergoing critical medical treatment, condemning the action as disrespectful and a form of revictimization. Consequently, Hendardi stated that the public cannot trust the legal proceedings or the verdicts produced by military courts in this case, warning that the decision undermines both the rule of law and public trust in the state.
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