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Acid attack on Novel Baswedan part of intimidation of KPK: Lawmaker
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Getting prepared: Novel Baswedan (second from right) and two other Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators, Ambarita Damanik (left) and M. Irwan Santoso (right), arrive at the Jakarta Corruption Court to give testimony in an e-ID graft trial on March 27. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
H
ouse of Representatives member Bambang Soesatyo condemned the acid attack against Novel Baswedan, a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator, saying it was a form of terrorism and intimidation against the antigraft body.
“I condemn this barbaric act and ask that the perpetrators be punished heavily,” said the lawmaker from the House’s Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, human rights and security, in a statement on Tuesday.
Bambang said Commission III wanted the National Police to immediately dispatch personnel to examine the site of the attack and to carry out a thorough investigation to reveal the motives behind it to find out which case was possibly connected to it.
“As we all know, he [Novel] is currently investigating big graft cases that involve high-profile figures. The police should not hesitate to uncover this attack. Clearly, it’s a form of terrorism and intimidation against law enforcers, which must be jointly tackled by all components of society,” said Bambang.
(Read also: Acid attack against KPK investigator condemned)
As reported earlier, Novel was left with severe burns on his face after he was attacked with a “noxious substance” while on his way home after performing morning prayers in a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Tuesday. He was rushed to Mitra Keluarga Hospital in Kelapa Gading to receive medical treatment.
As one of the KPK's top investigators, Novel led the investigations into several high-profile cases, such as those related to the procurement of driving simulators and the construction of the Hambalang sports complex.
Novel is currently leading the investigation into the e-ID embezzlement case, which implicates several House members and high-ranking government officials. (mrc/ebf)
