Novel Baswedan, senior investigator for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was given a hero’s welcome today when he returned to Indonesia from Singapore, where he has spent the last 10 months under the care of ophthalmologists after an acid attack left him blind on one eye last year.
Novel reportedly touched down at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 11am today and was immediately picked up by KPK officials before heading straight to the anti-corruption body’s headquarters in the capital as a safety precaution.
At the headquarters, Novel was greeted by enthusiastic members of the public, including anti-corruption activists and groups, KPK staff, as well as journalists. Standing before the crowd, Novel thanked the people of Indonesia for their support and called for his attack to spur everyone to fight back against corruption.
#BreakingNews Novel Baswedan: Penyerangan terhadap diri saya menjadi penyemangat (dalam pemberantasan korupsi).#NovelKembalihttps://t.co/Omh53vz5vR pic.twitter.com/sGBD4HiOMY
— CNN Indonesia Daily (@CNNIDdaily) February 22, 2018
“I don’t want the attack to weaken me. I want it to be something that drives me even more,” Novel said in his speech.
Novel was splashed with hydrochloric acid in the face by two people on a motorcycle as he was leaving a mosque near his home in Jakarta on April 11. Though there have been no official confirmation for the link, his attack came while the KPK was (and still is) in the midst of of one of its biggest investigations ever after it accused dozens of high-level politicians of taking part in a scheme to rob the state of $170 million worth of misappropriated funds from the program for the country’s new e-KTP electronic ID cards (which has led to the highly dramatic arrest of former House Speaker Setya Novanto).
The National Police has come under heavy criticism for their investigation into Novel’s attack, as, 10 months later, they still haven’t identified the attackers, let alone whoever gave the order. The police did to arrest two suspects shortly after the attack, but they were released for supposedly having airtight alibis. After talking to 68 witnesses, the best lead the police say they currently have are sketches of two possible suspects.
The attack left Novel blind on his left eye and did some damage to his right eye as well. He is expected to go back-and-forth between Jakarta and Singapore for further eye operations in the coming months.
“Novel can’t yet return to work because of the health concerns,” said KPK Spokesman Febri Diansyah, as quoted by Detik today.
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