Public Asked to Urge Police, Not Jokowi over Novel Baswedan Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chief of Presidential Staff Moeldoko asked the public to stop urging President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on solving the case of an acid attack against Novel Baswedan. Moeldoko demanded people to head to National Police instead.

According to Moeldoko, President Jokowi has yet formed a Fact Finding Joint Team (TGPF) on Novel’s case because the President wanted to give full authority to the police. Jokowi, he added, has asked the government to not intervene any process of law enforcement.

Read: LBH Director Blasts Police over Unending Novel Baswedan Case

“So if some people feel dissatisfied, throw the pressure to the Police, ask them why they have not solved the case yet. Don’t throw the heat to President,” said Moeldoko to the reporters Friday, April 27.

Moeldoko appealed the people to give a room for the president to focus on strategic and bigger cases. If the government intervenes the legal process, the law enforcer might not work efficiently, he added.

Moeldoko then denied the saying that the issue was not a priority matter for Jokowi. “In fact, President handed the priority for the authority to work in optimal,” he said.

Read: Jokowi Shows Signal to Establish TGPF for Novel Baswedan Case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Novel Baswedan was splashed by acid water in a morning in April last year. At the time, Novel was investigating e-KTP graft case. The perpetrators have not been found yet since then.

Several groups urged President Jokowi to establish TGPF on Novel Baswedan case in a bid to quicken solving the case. The President made a response to wait until the Police give in before conducting further action.

Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani