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Jakarta Post

Fact-finding team key to resolving Novel acid attack

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, September 7, 2017

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Fact-finding team key to resolving Novel acid attack Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) activists stage a theatrical performance at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Aug.9 to show their solidarity with KPK senior investigator Novel Baswedan. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)

T

he creation of an independent fact-finding team is a crucial move that could help solve the case of the acid attack on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, a former leading member of the antigraft group has said.

Former KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said he found it strange that the relevant authorities had not yet moved to establish a special team to investigate Novel’s case, particularly concerning the latter’s statement that he did not wish to reveal secret information to institutions or people he did not trust.

“If getting justice is the basis [of the investigation], why do the authorities seem to lack the courage to establish an independent fact-finding team?" he told reporters at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

Bambang further said the acid attack against Novel was apparently an attempt by certain parties to weaken the KPK's authority in eradicating corruption.

Bambang’s statement reasserted previous calls by anticorruption activists who want the government to create a fact-finding team on Novel’s case, given the widespread suspicion of the influence of political interests in the case. In his earlier statement, Novel also suggested involvement by a high-ranking police officer in his acid attack.

Novel suffered serious wounds to his eyes after he was attacked by two unidentified people who threw acid in his face on April 11. At the time, Novel was leading a KPK investigation into the e-ID graft case, which has implicated several members of the House of Representatives and high-ranking government officials. (ebf)

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