“The summons is unlawful according to the Criminal Law Procedures Code [KUHAP],” Nawawi Bahrudin, a member of the Coalition of Advocates for Justice for Novel, said on Thursday.

He said Alghiffari had received the summons less than 24 hours from the scheduled questioning, which goes against procedures.

(Read also: Maladministration suspected in handling of Novel acid attack witness)

Nawawi added that Alghiffari would not qualify as a witness because he was not present at the time of Novel’s attack.

 “He did not directly witness or hear about the incident at that time."

Alghiffari is Novel’s lawyer and must maintain client confidentiality, he said.

While walking home from early morning prayers on April 11, 2017, Novel was attacked by two unidentified men who threw acid at him, severely injuring his left eye.

In a TV interview on Jan.8, Alghiffari claimed that several had men stalked Novel before the acid attack.

Meanwhile, police claimed the men were debt collectors who followed people at random.

Alghiffari has also questioned the police’s tardiness in releasing a sketch of the possible suspects, suggesting they had prior knowledge of the attack. (ami/ebf)

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