This is what 24-year-old comedian Bintang Emon found when he posted a short video on his Instagram account, expressing his surprise at how you can “accidentally” throw acid on someone’s face. In true comedic fashion, he pointed out that the law of gravity pulls objects downward. So unless the victim was walking  on his hands (unlikely, especially coming out of a mosque after dawn prayers!), no way could the corrosive sulfuric acid have made its way to the victim’s face all on its own.

The acid-throwing victim is Novel Baswedan, a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator and former policeman who had been involved in the investigation of several high-profile cases. The incident happened on April 17, 2017, and the perpetrators were Chief Brig. Ronny Bugis and Brig. Rahmat Kadir. The acid caused severe damage to Novel’s left eye, effectively making him blind. His right eye was also affected but still has 50 percent vision. In the long run, doctors say, Novel could go totally blind.

The “accidental” nature of the assault was the justification for the judges handing down an absurdly lenient sentence of one year to the attackers. The maximum is 12 years. The final decision is still pending, so let’s hope the sentence will be more just.

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