JAKARTA, LITERASIHUKUM.COM — Former KPK investigator Novel Baswedan suspects the motive behind the acid attack on activist KontraS, Andrie Yunus, while being directed as if it were only a personal matter for four soldiers Denma BAIS TNI who have been named as suspects. The suspicion was conveyed by Novel after the case files of the four soldiers were transferred from Puspom TNI to Oditurat Militer II-07 Jakarta on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

According to Novel, there have been concerns from the beginning that the case of the acid attack against Andrie was not handled optimally and ultimately resulted in a light sentence because the construction of the case was formed as if the motive was personal. He also highlighted the transfer of files which was carried out when, according to his question, the victim had not been thoroughly examined. In Novel's view, such a condition risks making the case lose its broader context and instead opens up space for defamation against the victim.

On the other hand, the TNI stated that the investigation process has been completed in accordance with applicable regulations. Kapuspen TNI Major General TNI Aulia Dwi Nasrullah said on April 7, 2026, that the TNI Military Police Center had handed over the case files, the suspects, and the evidence of the crime of persecution against Andrie Yunus to Otmil II-07 Jakarta. The four suspects who were handed over are NDP, SL, BHW, and ES, who was previously announced as a member Denma BAIS TNI of the Indonesian Navy and the Indonesian Air Force.

This transfer is important because it marks the shift of the case from the military investigation stage to the military prosecution stage. According to the TNI, after the files are examined in terms of formal and material requirements by the military prosecutor's office, the case will be transferred to the Military Court II-08 Jakarta if it is declared complete. However, up to this stage, the TNI has not yet disclosed in detail to the public the motive, the detailed roles of each suspect, as well as the complete construction regarding the possibility of intellectual actors behind the attack.

Novel's criticism also gains context from previous developments. The TNI had indeed stated that it had attempted to examine Andrie Yunus as a victim witness on March 19, 2026, but the examination could not be carried out because the doctor had not allowed it for health reasons. After that, the TNI Military Police sent a letter to LPSK because Andrie was under the protection of the institution. However, in its official statement, the TNI did not explain further whether the examination permit had been granted and whether Andrie had finally been examined before the files were handed over to the auditor.

From the perspective of human rights oversight, Komnas HAM on April 1, 2026, stated that the investigation carried out by military apparatus had reached approximately 80 percent based on coordination with the Indonesian Military Police Center (Puspom TNI). The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) also noted that four suspects have been charged with articles on severe maltreatment and planned maltreatment. However, Novel's statement indicates that for some civil society groups, administrative settlement and formal investigation alone are not sufficient if the question about the motive and chain of command remains unanswered clearly.

Thus, the case of the acid attack against Andrie Yunus is now entering a decisive phase. Procedurally, the Indonesian Military (TNI) states that the investigation has been completed and the case is ready to move to the military court. However, substantively, Novel Baswedan's criticism indicates that there is still public concern that this case should not be simplified into a personal act of individuals alone, whereas attacks on human rights defenders always have a broader dimension to civil liberties and state accountability.