TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The attack on Novel Baswedan could be called a crime on top of a crime. Acid thrown at this Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator shows the cruelty of those who seek to hide behind the attack. If corruption is an extraordinary crime, the intimidation of Novel allegedly linked to a case he is investigating must also be seen as an extraordinary crime.
This attack took place when Novel was leading the investigation into the massive corruption of the electronic ID cards, which allegedly involves a number of members of the House of Representatives (DPR). House Speaker Setya Novanto, whose role in the case emerged in court, has been banned from traveling overseas. Additionally, Novel had recently protested vigorously about the KPK policy of allowing senior police officers to join the organization.
It was not the first time Novel has been intimidated. When he investigated allegations of bribery at the Supreme Court, he was struck from behind by a hit-and-run car. And when he uncovered the driving simulator corruption at the National Police traffic division, Novel was indicted for an assault he never committed.
It is difficult to believe that all this is a coincidence. Novel has become an "icon" of the campaign to eradicate corruption. Attacks against him should be seen as counterattacks from corruptors. The KPK should protect its senior investigators who have uncovered major corruption cases. The state must pay all the costs of Novel¡¯s medical treatment, which he is currently undergoing in Singapore.
An equally important government obligation is to find the people who attacked Novel. The motive must be found and the masterminds and perpetrators must be severely punished. President Joko Widodo has ordered the national police chief to find the attackers. But this alone is not enough. Jokowi should establish an independent fact-finding team.
Previous police investigations into this type of intimidation have "faded away" without the guilty people ever being found. For example, the police failed to solve the attack on anti-corruption activist Tama S. Langkun, the Molotov cocktail attack on the Tempo office or the previous threats against Novel and other KPK investigators. An independent team is also needed to avoid any conflicts of interest. Relations between the KPK and the national police have been turbulent, especially when the commission investigates corruption cases involving police officers.
No matter how serious the attack on Novel, anticorruption officials must not be deterred. Such threats must be fought back, to prevent its recurrence. Within the KPK, the attack on Novel should serve as a motivation for officials to close ranks and reinforce their will. Of course, the KPK must tighten up security procedures in anticipation of further attacks.
The war on corruption is not the responsibility of the KPK alone. By law, the KPK is the vanguard of corruption eradication. The organization has a better reputation than other law enforcement bodies, but the DPR often threatens to restrict the powers of the commission. These threats always intensify when the KPK investigates corruption involving party bosses or lawmakers at the DPR.
President Joko Widodo must demonstrate a more tangible commitment to the eradication of corruption. He should be prepared to state that he stands behind the KPK by uncovering the facts behind the attack against Novel. The KPK must not be defeated by the corruptors. (*)
Read the full story in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
