IPW Urges Probe of Top Police Officer Involvement in Novel Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has urged a probe over the involvement of a top police officer in an acid attack against the KPK senior investigator Novel Baswedan.

“The Public can no longer rely on Jakarta Metro Police only to crack down on the case. It’s been three months since Jakarta Metro Police handled the case but there are no signs that the case will be revealed,” IPW presidium chairman Neta S Pane said yesterday in a written statement.

Read: Police Rejects Demand for Joint Probe into Novel Acid Attack Case

IPW sees that Novel’s claim about the involvement of a top police officer marks a new chapter in the investigation into the acid attack. An investigation is due to address Novel’s accusation. According to Neta, the public may believe Novel based on two indications.

Firstly, the public already knew that Novel is at odds with certain police personnel. Secondly, the public perceives that Jakarta Metro Police are incapable of cracking down on the acid attack case. Neta said that both issues could justify Novel’s accusation.

Neta added that the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Legal Commission has to summon the National Police chief General Tito Karnavian and Jakarta Metro Police Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan as well as Novel Baswedan to clarify the allegation. “The crime must be revealed because it’s a serious crime. On the contrary, if Novel’s accusation was not true, he must undergo due process of law for defaming the police,” he said.

DESTRIANITA