TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Novel Baswedan's lawyer, Muji Kartika Rahayu, said that since the beginning of the investigation, the investigators from the Criminal Investigation Police Headquarters intended to arrest Novel. As a proof, since the initial inspection on Friday morning, the investigation team had prepared an arrest warrant for Novel.
Although Novel refused, Muji continued, investigators still arrested Novel. "But Novel refused to sign the arrest warrant," said Muji at the office of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday, May 1st, 2015.
Criminal investigators brought Novel to the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters (Mako Brimob), at Depok, West Java. In fact, Novel deliberately asked to wear an orange-colored outfit -- an outfit for prisoner -- while being handcuffed. "Why did Novel was brought to Mako Brimob if he was not being detained? If he would only be investigated then it should be done in the Criminal Investigation department," said Muji.
Muji assessed that the Criminal investigators did not heed the orders of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who instructed the Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti to release Novel. "So when Jokowi asked the police to release Novel and the Police Chief replied yes, it's an utter lie," said Muji.
Novel was allegedly involved in a case of abusing four thieves of bird's nest in 2004. At that time he served as the Head of the General Criminal Investigation Unit at the Police Bengkulu City. Novel was accused of shooting and tortured the four thieves. One of them died, others were seriously injured.
INDRA WIJAYA