Jakarta – The murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen may have been set up to remove Antasari Azhar from the Corruption Eradication Comission (KPK), as both men had many "enemies", lawyers say.
"Many top state officials have benefited from the arrest of my client. Under his (Antasari's) command the KPK has revealed many graft cases involving officials and lawmakers," Antasari's lawyer Juniver Girsang told The Jakarta Post on the weekend.
Nasruddin, director of state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran (PRB), was shot dead on March 14. His lawyer, Boyamin Saiman, said separately that it was believed Nasruddin was in possession of damning evidence and documents related to corruption cases involving political parties.
One of Nasruddin's corruption reports, involving the misuse of Rp 4.5 billion (US$440,000) in funds from PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia, the holding company of PRB, has been processed by the KPK, Former RNI finance director Ranendra Dangin is currently on trial at the Corruption Court for his involvement in the crime.
On Monday, Ranendra told the court that former president Megawati Soekarnoputri had received Rp 500 million from RNI to fund her party's campaign in 2003. This accusation was later denied by Megawati's aides. Boyamin said many people might have considered Nasruddin a "serious threat".
Juniver said he believed the murder was orchestrated by individuals who wanted revenge on Antasari. "Antasari's conflict with Nasruddin has been used to corner my client and put him in jail," he said.
Juniver said the conflict between the two men revolved largely around the fact Nasruddin was allegedly blackmailing Antasari about his affair with the victim's third wife, Rani Juliani.
Antasari asked National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri for protection in October 2008 when he felt the threats were going too far and a team was assigned to arrest Nasruddin.
A hotel room in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, occupied by Nasrudin and Rhani was raided in January but no arrests were made. The team was then disbanded as Antasari believed his point had been made.
The enemies of Nasrudin and Antasari may have somehow conspired together to "eliminate" both men, Juniver said.
"When Antasari was named as the mastermind behind the murder, the real killer managed to escape into hiding. It's not logical that a person who requested police protection would then commit murder. Something sinister has happened here," Juniver said.
A source told the Post that one of Antasari's enemies was from the Attorney General's Office (AGO). Antasari was the head of the South Jakarta prosecutor's office before he was elected to chair the KPK.
In February 2008 the KPK, under Antasari's command, busted senior state prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan accepting a US$660,000 bribe from businesswoman Artalyta Suryani. The Corruption Court sentenced Urip to 20 years in prison in September 2008. Urip was dismissed from the AGO.
Artalyta was a colleague of media magnate Sigid Haryo Wibisono in the National Awakening Party. Both were sacked separately in 2008 for disciplinary reasons.
Sigid was charged with allegedly providing Rp 500 million ($50,000) to former South Jakarta police Sr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizar to fund Nasruddin's murder. Both Sigid and Wiliardi are among nine murder suspects currently being detained by police.
Another suspect, a naval officer identified by the initials AB, was arrested by the Military Police on charges of providing the weapon allegedly used to murder Nasrudin, Navy spokesman First Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said to Antara news agency.
University of Indonesia criminologist Adrianus Meliala said this conspiracy theory would have to be proven through the course of investigation.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Iriawan said the police investigation was focusing on the murder, not allegations of links to corruption.
The police seized Sigid's computer and CCTV footage while searching his home, the place where Sigid, Antasari and Wiliardi allegedly arranged to murder Nasruddin. (bbs)