Yusril: Government respects the verdict of four TNI soldiers in the Andrie Yunus case

JAKARTA - The government respects the decision of the military court which sentenced four TNI soldiers to prison in the case of water spraying on Kontras activist Andrie Yunus.

Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated that the government respects the military court's verdict against four TNI soldiers involved in the case of water spraying on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus.

According to Yusril, the verdict handed down by the panel of judges shows the independence of the judiciary in enforcing the law based on facts revealed during the trial without interference from any party.

"The government fully respects the verdict that has been handed down by the panel of judges," Yusril said in his statement, Wednesday, June 10.

In this case, four members of the TNI were sentenced to prison terms with different terms of imprisonment. Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko was sentenced to three years in prison, Lieutenant One Budhi Hariyanto Widhi two years and six months in prison, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya two years in prison, and Lieutenant One Sami Lakka one year and six months in prison.

In addition to imprisonment, Edi Sudarko and Budhi Hariyanto Widhi were also sentenced to additional punishment in the form of dismissal from the military service.

Yusril assessed that the panel of judges had considered the level of involvement and the mistakes of each defendant in proportion. Therefore, the verdict with different sentences is considered to reflect the application of the principle of justice based on the role of each defendant in the case.

He also highlighted the decision that exceeded the demands of the military oditur or ultra petita. One of the defendants was sentenced to three years in prison, heavier than the previous demand, which both asked for a two-year-six-month sentence for the defendants.

According to Yusril, the ruling is important as a form of enforcement of discipline as well as providing a deterrent effect for TNI soldiers not to commit similar violations in the future.

This case began with the planned act of spraying hard water on Andrie Yunus. Based on the facts of the trial, the defendants are said to intend to teach a lesson and deter the victim, who is considered to have harmed the image of the TNI institution.

Andrie's attitude, which was the focus of the defendants, included his actions in interrupting the discussion of the revision of the TNI Law in March 2025, suing the TNI Law to the Constitutional Court, as well as a number of criticisms he made against the military institution.

The panel of judges considered that the actions of the defendants who used hard water as a means to injure the victim were acts that should not be carried out by members of the TNI. Hard water is known to cause serious burns and has the potential to cause permanent disability.

For their actions, the four defendants were found guilty of violating Article 467 paragraph (1) in conjunction with paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 20 letter C of the Criminal Code (KUHP).