Novel Baswedan: Prabowo Must Act on Andrie Yunus Acid Attack

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Former Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan has urged President Prabowo Subianto to pay close attention to the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator for external affairs at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

Andrie was attacked by unidentified assailants on Jalan Salemba I in Central Jakarta on Thursday night, March 12, 2026.

“I urge President Prabowo to pay attention to this case,” Novel said during a press conference at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) office in Central Jakarta on Friday, March 13.

He also called on the President to ensure full support for the police investigation. “The police must thoroughly investigate this case so that all perpetrators can be punished to the fullest extent,” Novel said.

Novel stressed that the investigation must go beyond the direct attackers and identify those who may have orchestrated the assault.

“Everyone involved must be investigated, including the intellectual actors. They must be reached and held fully accountable,” he said.

According to a chronology released by KontraS, the attack took place at around 11:37 PM Andrie was riding a motorcycle on Jalan Salemba I when two men on another motorcycle approached from the opposite direction at the intersection with Jalan Talang and splashed him with a corrosive liquid.

KontraS said both suspects were male. The driver was described as wearing a white-and-blue T-shirt, jeans, and a black helmet. The passenger, who allegedly carried out the attack, wore a black face covering or buff, a dark blue T-shirt, and blue pants rolled up to resemble shorts.

The liquid struck several parts of Andrie’s body, causing him to scream in pain and fall from his motorcycle.

As a result of the attack, Andrie suffered burns to multiple areas of his body, including his hands, face, chest, and eyes. He was immediately taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) for emergency treatment, particularly for injuries to his eyes.

Based on medical examinations, Andrie sustained burns over 24 percent of his body.

KontraS said none of Andrie’s belongings were taken or missing, suggesting the attack was not a robbery.

The incident occurred shortly after Andrie had recorded a podcast at the YLBHI office titled “Remilitarism and Judicial Review in Indonesia,” which ended at around 11:00 PM.

KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya described the assault as an attempt to “silence critical voices, especially those who defend human rights.”

“This incident must immediately receive broad attention from law enforcement agencies and civil society,” Dimas said in a written statement on Friday.

He also urged police to swiftly identify the perpetrators and uncover the motive behind the attack. In addition, he called for the suspects to be charged under the attempted murder provision in Article 459 of Indonesia’s revised Criminal Code (KUHP).

“The acid attack could have caused severe and fatal injuries, or even death,” he said.

Read: Komnas HAM Raises Alarm on Attacks Against Human Rights Defenders

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