Judge Requests Andrie Yunus to Appear in Hard Water Sprinkling Trial

Presiding Judge Colonel of Law (Chk) Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto (center) during the reading of the indictment at the Jakarta Military Court II-08, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

JAKARTA - The panel of judges at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta asked Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Andrie Yunus to attend the trial for alleged persecution in the form of hard water spraying.

Presiding Judge Colonel Corps of Law (Chk) Fredy Ferdian Isnartanto said Andrie's presence as a victim was very important to provide witness testimony in the trial.

"I ask that it be tried, later if the oditur is not able, that is, the panel of judges in this case the presiding judge will use his authority to present the witnesses forcibly by appointment," said the Chief Judge in the reading of the indictment at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta, Wednesday, April 29.

The presiding judge considered that the current military investigation should be easier to bring Andrie to trial because the activist was fully protected by the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).

That way, the military's oditur can coordinate with the LPSK. In addition, the Chief Justice also invited Andrie to be accompanied by the LPSK when giving testimony at the trial.

"Even if you can't be physically present, through Zoom it's not a problem. It is accommodated in our procedural law," said the Chief Justice.

On the same occasion, the military prosecutor Major TNI Corps Hukum (Chk) Wasinton Marpaung said that his party had summoned Andrie to attend the trial as a witness, but the person concerned had not been able to attend.

Oditur explained that Andrie is currently undergoing intensive medical treatment, both physical and psychological at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM).

"So far there have been two calls from investigators, namely on March 27, 2026 and April 3, 2026," said the military prosecutor.

In this case, four personnel of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) were charged with pouring water on Andrie with the aim of giving lessons and "deterrent effect" so as not to slander the TNI institution.

The four defendants in question are Sergeant Two Edi Sudarko, Lieutenant One (Lettu) Budhi Hariyanto Widhi, Captain Nandala Dwi Prasetya, and Lettu Sami Lakka.

The attitude of Andrie, which the defendants considered to have harassed the TNI institution, occurred on March 16, 2025 when Andrie forced to enter and interrupt the meeting to revise the TNI Law in Jakarta.

Another attitude that made the defendants angry was when Andrie sued the TNI Law to the Constitutional Court (MK), accusing the TNI of intimidating or committing terror at the KontraS office, and being the mastermind or actor of the riot tragedy in late August 2025, as well as vigorously launching an anti-militarism narrative.

Thus, the actions of the defendants, who had planned to spray Andrie with hard water, which is known that the chemical liquid can cause severe burns, are considered inappropriate actions by TNI members.

For their actions, the four defendants are threatened with criminal penalties as stipulated in Article 469 paragraph (1) or Article 468 paragraph (1) or Article 467 paragraph (1) jo. Article 20 letter C of the National Criminal Code (KUHP).