Novel Baswedan Calls for Formation of Fact - Finding Team

TEMPO.CO, Singapore - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan has called for the formation of a fact-finding team on an acid attack against him. Novel conveyed the message during police questioning over an alleged involvement of a top police officer in the attack.

“It does not necessarily mean that Novel wants to fight the police through a fact-finding team. Novel would not mind if the information he gave to the fact-finding team were forwarded to police investigators. The aim is to make things clear, in independent [manner],” said a member of Novel’s advocacy team Yati Andriyani at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore yesterday.

Two unidentified individuals attacked Novel with hydrochloric acid on April 11 in the morning. Novel has been receiving intensive treatment in Singapore following the attack. Some 125 days after the attack, the police could yet find any evidence to identify the perpetrators. Many see that the investigation process has been sluggish and unusual.

Read: House: Fact – Finding Team over Novel Baswedan Case Unnecessary

Novel earlier opened up in several interviews with mass media about some information he received from counterterrorism unit Densus 88. He said that the unit had found two alleged attackers whose pictures were then distributed. The police, however, have released three individuals who matched the photos and witnesses’ information.

Novel also revealed the info about a top police officer’s involvement in the acid attack. Aside from instructing terror attacks against the KPK investigators, the top cop reportedly had ordered investigators to remove the fingerprints on a cup used in the acid attack.

“He [Novel] has always asked investigators to focus on the attack. It should be addressed first and foremost before going to the next issue [the top cop who terrorized the KPK investigators],” Novel advocacy team leader Hariz Azhar said.

Read: Govt Urged to Form Fact – Finding Team over Novel Baswedan Case

Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit director Sr. Comr. Rudy Heryanto said that the investigation team did question Novel over the identity of the top cop. He said that the team needs to dig deeper to get the whole picture of the attack. “The identity of the top police officer is not yet revealed. Only Novel knows,” he said.

Jakarta Metro Police spokesman said that the investigators not only questioned Novel over the identity of the top cop but also the timeline of events before the acid attack and a suspicion that the incident was linked to a graft case handled by Novel.

Novel said that he had repeatedly been questioned about the identity of the top police officer. But he said that he will only focus on the investigation into the acid attack. He refused to go beyond it and convey new materials that would further burden the investigators. “I don’t want to give any burden that would be difficult for investigators to bear.”

FRANSISCO ROSARIANS