REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla again expressed optimism that the national police would be serious in handling the case of strong acid attack against Novel Baswedan, a senior investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Kalla made the statement at his office here on Friday in response to the urgency to form a joint fact-finding team (TGPF) to handle the case.

"The important point is that the police should be serious since essentially, the TGPF has to work along with the police," he stressed.

On April 11, 2017, Baswedan was fatally attacked by two motorcyclists who hurled acid on his face that injured his eyes, particularly the left eye, while he was heading home after performing Fajr, or the Dawn prayers, at a mosque nearby.

Also read: Kalla urges police to solve Novel Baswedan's case

Baswedan lost vision in his left eye and has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore.

The police have yet to identify the perpetrators after almost a year of investigation.

Several civil society groups have also proposed the formation of a TGPF. "My colleagues and I, our legal team, and some activists have submitted (a proposal) for the establishment of the TGPF. Why? It needs greater attention. We also offer support to the police investigators to reveal it (the case)," Baswedan noted.

Baswedan, a 40-year-old retired police officer, had joined the anti-graft agency in 2007 and has since then been frequently terrorized and attacked.

The vice president further highlighted the need to resolve the case. Hence, the length of time required to solve the acid attack case was fairly justifiable.

"Despite the prolonged time in conducting the investigation, I hope the police would be serious in its approach, and the case would really be solved," he remarked.

In the meantime, on Thursday (Feb 22), Febri Diansyah, the KPK's spokesman, noted that Baswedan will remain a KPK investigator despite being absent for over 10 months for undergoing eye treatment in Singapore.

"Until now, Baswedan is still an employee of the KPK's investigation directorate, as chief of the task force. Now, his post remains unchanged. When he returns to the job will depend on his recovery process," Diansyah stated at the KPK building.

He made the remarks after greeting Baswedan, who has just returned from Singapore.

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