Indonesian Graft Investigator Attacked with Chemical

KPK top investigator Novel Baswedan.

Jakarta, 14 Rajab 1438/11 April 2017 (MINA) – A graft investigator was attacked with a chemical by two unidentified attackers on Tuesday, amid probe into a scandal that threatens to implicate some high-profile politicians.

Novel Baswedan, an investigator of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was attacked in the capital of Jakarta after dawn prayer in the neighborhood mosque by two men riding a motorcycle, a police official said.

National Police Chief Tito Karnavian said it formed a special team to uncover the motive of the attack.

Baswedan is part of investigating teams probing several major cases including the ID card case that is being heard in court.

The commission has put two government officials, a businessman, and a house member as suspects in the case.

Indonesia’s anti-corruption body is accusing at least 27 officials –24 of them House members– of having accepted millions of dollars in bribes under an electronic identity cards scheme that cost the state around $190 million in losses.

KPK has banned one of house members, Setya Novanto, from overseas travel for six months in connection with the case.

The commission’s spokesman Febri Diansyah told Anadolu Agency that the terror will not affect the commission staff’s performance, ensuring probes into all cases are still in progress. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)