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Police begin investigation into acid attack on KPK investigator
The Jakarta Police began investigating the assault on an investigator from the Corruption Eradication Commission, Novel Baswedan, who was doused with acid by two unidentified men after engaging in morning prayer in a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.
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Corruption Eradication Commission investigator Novel Baswedan (second right) arrives at the Jakarta Corruption Court to testify in the e-ID graft case trial on March 27. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he Jakarta Police began investigating the assault on an investigator from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Novel Baswedan, who was doused with acid by two unidentified men after engaging in morning prayer in a mosque near his house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Tuesday that the police are currently delving into the evidence and questioning witnesses of the incident.
“We are currently searching for any surveillance cameras [that might have recorded the incident],” said Argo. Hydrochloric acid was splashed onto Novel’s face, but he remained conscious after the incident.
As the assault took place within a guarded residential complex, the police would interview the security guards of the area, he said.
Police investigators would also question Novel once the doctors allowed them, Argo added.
Jakarta Police and the National Police would cooperate to protect the other KPK investigators who are working on the same case as Novel.
Meanwhile, several KPK officials, including KPK deputy Laode Syarif and former KPK chiefs Taufiequrachman Ruki and Abraham Samad, paid a visit to Novel, who is currently being treated in Mitra Keluarga Hospital, North Jakarta.
“He [Novel] is recovering and has regained consciousness. We are going to transfer his care to the Jakarta Eye Center in Central Jakarta to accelerate his recovery,” said Laode. “For now, only the doctors can conclude how badly he was affected, but so far we know that Novel already has eyesight problems.” (dea)
