Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has refused to make any comment on his surprise meeting with former national antigraft agency chairman Antasari Azhar at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday (26/01).

Jokowi was confronted by the press on his meeting with Antasari after he gave a speech for students at the semi-military Taruna Nusantara High School in Magelang, Central Java, on Friday. "Don't be too nosy," Jokowi said jokingly, echoing Antasari's statement to the press on Thursday.

The president placed his index finger on his lips, hinting that he did not want to discuss the issue. Antasari had done the same thing when surrounded by the media at the palace on Thursday.

"Antasari's meeting with the president was based on a request he submitted quite awhile ago," presidential spokesman Johan Budi said on Friday.

Antasari's meeting with the president has sparked speculation that he may be plotting political revenge against those responsible for his downfall.

Many people believe Antasari was framed for the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, a director at state-owned Putra Rajawali Banjaran, as the evidence in the case was deemed insufficient to secure a conviction. Even Nasruddin's brother Andi Zulkarnaen has said on many occasions that he believed Antasari was innocent.

Antasari, who served as Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman from 2007 to 2009, was released on parole in November last year after seven and a half years in prison and remission – or two-thirds of his 18-year jail term for the murder of the businessman.

Jokowi granted clemency to Antasari on Jan. 16, which was confirmed with an official letter delivered to the South Jakarta Court on Monday.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/mums-word-public-speculates-jokowis-meeting-antasari-azhar/