Indonesian Anti-Corruption Fighter Undeterred by Acid Attack
In a dramatic turn, a top investigator from Jakarta’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is gearing up to reveal the results of his own probe into an acid attack that left him partially blinded in 2017. The incident caught firestorm attention when a former police officer was banged with corrosive liquid while walking home from a mosque.
The Attack that Reshaped a Career
Baswan Baswedan—yes, that’s the name—has faced a literal war of tears. He underwent multiple eye surgeries after the acid splashed into his face, eventually requiring a specialist in Singapore to reconstruct his left eye. He says he’s been shoved and nearly trampled on several times before that fateful day.
He hints that the motive behind the attack might tie back to the corruption cases he was chasing. “I suspect it’s connected to the graft investigations I’ve handled,” he told a briefing with the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club, hinting that “the police general from one case may have a hand in this.”
Police Investigation? Not So Smooth
Even after President Joko Widodo’s urgent call for a swift solution, the police have yet to pin down the assailant or the mastermind behind the attack. Baswedan, once a police investigator himself, initially “loved” their efforts but later called out a lack of seriousness.
He claims the police plucked made the missing CCTV footage a mystery and pressed witnesses for silence. “They’re not taking this seriously,” Baswedan says. That’s why he didn’t wait around for police justice.
Baswedan’s Own Investigation and the Conspiracy Trailer
Using his own armor of law and a network of lawyers, Baswedan sifts through the evidence and has discovered “intellectual players” behind the assault. These details were forwarded to Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for deeper scrutiny.
He promises an upcoming major release of his findings for the public—a move that could shake the already shaky foundations of Indonesia’s legal systems.
What the Protest Means for Jakarta and Beyond
- The case underscores how high-risk it is to fight graft in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
- With elections on the horizon, the incoming administration will need to tighten police and legal institutions.
- The KPK has successfully jailed several high-ranking officials over the past decade but corruption still lingers.
- Transparency International ranked Indonesia 96th out of 180 countries last year—tied with Thailand and Colombia.
Baswedan’s unwavering campaigned drive shows that the fight against corruption is not just a bureaucratic battle—it’s personal. He’s not just after justice for himself but for a cleaner, safer Jakarta.
