Indonesia’s anti-corruption chief goes on trial for businessman’s slaying

Indonesian anti-graft chief on trial for murder

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The chief of Indonesia’s anti-corruption commission went on trial Thursday charged with masterminding the murder of the head of a state-owned company.

Antasari Azhar, 56, was arrested in May, two months after Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, director of pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was shot to death at a golf course on the outskirts of Jakarta, the capital.

Azhar has denied wrongdoing, describing his arrest as a smear campaign in retaliation for his efforts to put high-ranking officials behind bars.

But local media have speculated the slaying was a crime of passion, citing relatives of the victim who claimed both Zulkarnaen and Azhar were involved with a 22-year-old female golf caddy.

As head of the independent Corruption Eradication Commission for the past two years, Azhar oversaw a series of high-profile probes into government officials and institutions, including the father-in-law of one of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s sons.

Zulkarnaen was shot through the window of his car on March 15 by two gunmen on motorcycles as he was leaving the golf course.

Eight other suspects have been charged, including a police colonel, a newspaper owner, a businessman and five people allegedly directly involved in carrying out the shooting.

“The charges against Azhar are clear — he has persuaded other people to kill someone. That’s it. It is simple,” prosecutor Cirus Sinaga told reporters Thursday after the hearing in the South Jakarta District Court.

Azhar told the court he did not understand the charges, and judge Heri Swantoro adjourned the trial until next week, when Azhar’s lawyers are due to respond to the charges.

The case has drawn national attention, with Thursday’s hearing broadcast on national television. More than 400 police guarded the courthouse.

Three of the other suspects — Col. Wiliardi Wizardi, Sigid Haryo Wibisono and Jerry Hermawan Lo — also went on trial Thursday. They are charged with conspiracy to murder.