Novel Baswedan Case; Police: We Never Say It's Personal Revenge

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Argo Yuwono asserted that the police had never said that the perpetrators’ motive behind the attack against Novel Baswedan was personal revenge.

“We never say that. The most vital thing is, the police’s work is not to judge but prove the perpetrator to bring him to the public prosecutor for trials,” said Argo at Police HQ on Tuesday, December 31.

Argo explained that the investigation on the attackers, who are identified as RM and RB, included all things related to chronology, motives, and elements noted in the article charged for the two.

“Of course, the suspects’ testimony is synchronized with other evidence. We analyze and evaluate all,” he added.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) doubted the motive behind the attack against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator was personal issues. “We discover it a systemic, planned attack,” said the human rights watchdog’s research commissioner Mohammad Choirul Anam to Tempo on Monday, December 30.

Anam said the acid attack against Novel Baswedan involved many people with various roles, such as the planner, location spotter, and attackers. He then demanded the police seek comprehensive evidence, including on the relation to the corruption case handled by the investigator of the anti-graft body.

HALIDA BUNGA