National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian shows a sketch of the face of a man believed to be the perpetrator attacking Novel Baswedan, an investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission. The sketch was disclosed in a press conference after a meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (31/7/2017).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The investigation into the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Novel Baswedan is seen as a test for the government’s commitment on corruption eradication and solidifying the KPK’s power. The test seems more pressing than ever as no light has been shed on the case despite the incident having occurred more than 200 days ago.
The National Police promised a speedy investigation into the attack on Novel, which occurred after he had finished his subuh (dawn) prayer at the Al-Ihsan mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, on April 11. However, the police later said they had yet to gather enough witnesses and evidence for the case to proceed.
At the same time, the plan to establish a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) to accelerate the investigation process has been going nowhere. The idea of establishing the team was first proposed two days after the attack, and the KPK has yet to officially submit the proposal to the President. “The KPK is collective-collegial by nature. If the other leaders agree [to the proposal], it will be submitted to President Jokowi. It is in our best interests to unravel the case soon,” KPK chair Agus Rahardjo said in Jakarta on Thursday.
After meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, chairman of the youth wing of Indonesia\'s second biggest Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, said Kalla promised to discuss the idea to establish the TGPF with the President.
“We asked Pak JK [Jusuf Kalla] to push for establishment of a TGPF. Pak JK said he would discuss it with the President,” Dahnil said.
According to Dahnil, establishing a TGPF is important as the police has yet to make any arrests over the acid attack. It is believed the TGPF would be able to accelerate the investigation. As the TGPF will comprise credible independent figures, it will have more freedom to find data and facts regarding the incident.
Doubtful
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) researcher Mochtar Pabottingi said he was doubtful the government would have the courage to establish the TGPF. “I think that even the ‘gecko vs. crocodile’ dispute [between the KPK and the National Police in 2009] is still lower than Novel’s case. The ‘gecko vs. crocodile’ dispute was resolved in court. On Novel, it has reached physical attack. This is truly destructive. If we do not defend [the investigation], the people will be doubtful of the government’s corruption-eradication spirit,” Mochtar explained.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Martinus Sitompul said the Police would not be swayed by the proposal to establish a TGPF. Resolving Novel’s case is still among the police’s top priorities.
However, Martinus said the police had difficulties in resolving the case as there was little evidence and few witnesses. The CCTV footage the police had obtained from witnesses, especially those in Novel’s neighborhood, did not help much in the investigation. “Therefore, we are being extra careful in making our moves against those allegedly involved in the attack. However, rest assured, the investigation will not stop,” Martinus said.
Assessment
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Lalola Easter said the government’s seriousness in investigating the case will contribute to the public assessment of Jokowi and Kalla’s performance. A slow investigation will tarnish the government’s commitment to eradicating corruption, which is listed as a top priority in Jokowi and Kalla’s Nawacita vision.
If neglected, the situation will surely undermine the electability of Jokowi and his supporting parties in the 2019 election. Furthermore, apart from Novel’s case, there are also other issues, including the House of Representatives’ right of inquiry against the KPK.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) executive Trimedya Panjaitan said he did not see the correlation between the attack against Novel and public trust of both the government and government-supporting political parties. “Such a conclusion is too far-fetched,” he said.
Furthermore, Trimedya said, the investigation of Novel’s case is the police’s full responsibility. “Any suspicion that the police is not serious about investigating the case is an exaggeration,” he said.
United Development Party (PPP) deputy chair Arwani Thomafi said the lack of a resolution in Novel’s case did not mean the government and its supporting parties did not supportcorruption eradication. “The point is, undermining corruption eradication efforts has no room in this administration,” Arwani said.
