Anti-graft agency defiant despite acid attack

Probe involving $170m is turning into one of the biggest Indonesian agency has handled

Indonesia’s anti-graft agency yesterday condemned an acid attack on one of its top investigators handling a corruption investigation that has implicated dozens of politicians, and said it would not be deterred in its fight.

The corruption investigation, involving the suspected theft of $170 million (Dh624 million) from a budget to procure national electronic identity cards, is turning into one of the biggest cases the agency, known by its Indonesian initials KPK, has handled.

The KPK has banned the speaker of parliament, Setya Novanto, from overseas travel for six months in connection with the case, which has stirred sensational headlines in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy long burdened by endemic graft.

Early yesterday, an unidentified attacker threw acid at senior KPK investigator Novel Baswedan, police said.

He was being treated in hospital for injuries to his eyes and face, and police were investigating whether the attack was related to his work, said Jakarta police chief Mochammad Iriawan. It was not the first time Baswedan had been attacked and his agency said it would not be cowed.

“We strongly condemn the uncivilised attack on Novel. Novel is us and we are the KPK. We will never stop fighting against corruption,” the KPK said in a statement.

Security to be stepped up

Deputy agency chief Laode M. Syarif said police would be asked to step up security for agency officials.

“We will ask the national and city police for extra protection for KPK investigators,” he told reporters.

President Joko Widodo ordered police to investigate and urged KPK officials to be vigilant. “This is a brutal act that I strongly condemn,” Widodo told reporters at the presidential palace. “All investigators must be alert and keep working hard.” Two suspects on trial over the graft case have told a court that at least 37 politicians benefited from the theft of funds from the ID procurement budget, including parliament speaker Novanto.

Late on Monday, the KPK banned Novanto from going overseas for six months.

Novanto, who is also the chairman of Indonesia’s second-biggest political party, Golkar, told media he would cooperate with authorities.