Lawmaker decries military court verdict in acid attack case

Andreas Hugo Pareira, Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, has criticized the verdict handed down by the Military Court II-08 Jakarta in the acid attack case against human rights activist Andrie Yunus. Pareira stated that the ruling "only fulfills justice for the perpetrators" while Yunus, the victim, continues to seek justice.

"Because it is tried by the Military Court for a common crime committed by a soldier, perhaps this is fair for the military, because they have succeeded in systematically abusing a civilian," said the politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. Pareira believes the verdict was based on a military paradigm and way of thinking, and he declined to comment on calls to move the case to a public court.

The military court found four members of the Strategic Intelligence Body of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Bais TNI) guilty of premeditated assault resulting in severe injury. They were sentenced under Article 467 of the Criminal Code and Article 20(c) of the Criminal Code. The main defendant, Sergeant Edi Sudarko, received a three-year prison sentence and was dismissed from military service. Lieutenant Satu Budhi Hariyanto Widhi was sentenced to two years and six months and also dismissed. Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetyo received two years, while Lieutenant Satu Sami Lakka was sentenced to one year and six months, with no additional dismissal penalties for the latter two.

“

Because it is tried by the Military Court for a common crime committed by a soldier, perhaps this is fair for the military, because they have succeeded in systematically abusing a civilian.