Solving Case May Take Multiple Paths

A full year has passed since the acid attack on Novel Baswedan. KPK said that investigation into the attack might require the involvement of parties other than the National Police.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

An activist holds aloft mask made from the image KPK chief investigator Novel Baswedan during a rally on Wednesday (11/4/2018) in front of Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. The rally, organized by activists from the Civil Society Coalition for the KPK, marked 365 days since KPK chief investigator Novel Baswedan was attacked with acid.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A full year has passed since the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Novel Baswedan. The National Police has questioned dozens of witnesses but, as of Wednesday (11/4/2018), no significant progress had been made in solving the case.

In relation to this, the KPK said that investigation into the attack might require the involvement of parties other than the National Police.

“What happened to Novel can happen to anyone involved in corruption eradication efforts in Indonesia. This case must be solved properly and the perpetrators must be found, no matter how we do it,” KPK deputy chair Saut Situmorang said at the screening of the film Menolak Diam (“Refusal of Silence”) at the anti-graft body’s Jakarta headquarters on Wednesday. “Novel himself has suggested numerous ways to do this, including by forming a joint fact-finding team. If there is a possibility that another path of investigation can help us find the perpetrators faster, then we must take it. It all depends on our commitment and agreement,” he added.

Two unknown assailants on a motorcycle threw acid into Novel’s face on the morning of Apr. 11, 2017. The incident occurred after Novel had finished his dawn prayer at Al-Ihsan mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. The acid caused severe damage to his left eye.

Saut said the KPK deemed the recovery of Novel’s sight a priority. Today, he can see objects of up to a meter away with his left eye. He still requires a routine checkup in Singapore to monitor his progress.

Resolution

The government remains convinced that the National Police is capable of solving the case. “I believe that, through hard work, the police can solve the case. The people need to help the police,” said Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

“We should let the police investigate the case. If the police agrees, a TGPF [joint fact-finding team] can be formed,” said Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohammad Iqbal said that, as in other cases, a TGPF would not contribute much to solving the attack on Novel. Unlike police investigators, TGPF personnel cannot dig deep into the technical aspects of the investigative process.

“Please remember that we are being watched by various state bodies, including the Ombudsman, the National Police Commission and the National Commission on Human Rights [Komnas HAM]. Please respect the commitment of these bodies to solving the case together,” said Iqbal.

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said that President Joko Widodo remained committed to resolving the acid attack on Novel.

This was not the first attack to occur in connection with corruption eradication. In July 2010, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) activist Tama S Langkun was also assaulted by unknown assailants. Similar cases have also occurred in a number of regions, most of which remain unsolved.

(AGE/NDY/SAN/DD07/REK/IAN/INA/WER)