Jakarta – Police have charged suspended Corruption Eradication Commission chief Antasari Azhar with the premeditated murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
Spokesman for the National Police, Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira, said Friday the investigation into Antasari's alleged role in the crime was nearing completion and the file would soon be handed over to the Attorney General's Office.
Abubakar said Antasari, along with former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizar and media businessman Sigid Haryo Wibisono, had been charged under Article 340 of the Criminal Code in relation to the March 14 murder. If charged, the maximum sentence is death.
"However, the real sentences will depend on the judges, who could also hand down penalties of life or 20 years imprisonment," Abubakar said.
The other six suspects – Eduardus Ndopo aka Edo, Jerry Hermawan Lo, Hendrikus Kia Walen, Fransiskus Tadon Keran, Heri Santosa, and Daniel Daen – will be prosecuted under article 338 of the Criminal Code on murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail. All nine suspects are still in police custody.
Earlier in the day, National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said detectives had almost finalized investigations into the case. "The suspects charged under article 338 will be processed by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office next week. Those charged under article 340 will be processed the week after," he said.
Nasruddin, the director of state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was shot inside his car by two men on a motorcycle in Tangerang, Banten.
"The suspects who took part in providing the motorcycle and operational money, and giving the orders to kill, and so on, will be considered as premeditated murderers," Abubakar said. "Those who were on the motorcycle and who shot the victim or bought the gun, will be charged as perpetrators."
The police have stated they believe Antasari was the mastermind behind the murder. Nasruddin was allegedly involved in a love affair with golf caddy Rhani Juliani while she was also reportedly dating Antasari.
When asked if the police had found any other motive beside the love conflict, National Police Chief Bambang said, "Please, just attend the upcoming trials. The courts are open to the public, right?"
According to Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Wahyono, Antasari was suspected of having asked Sigid to assist in dealing with Nasruddin, who had allegedly been blackmailing the former KPK chief and his family.
Sigid allegedly accepted the request and asked Wiliardi to "take care" of Nasruddin, paying him Rp 500 million (US$47,000) for operational costs. The former police officer then allegedly passed the money on to Edo, who recruited five hitmen, including the alleged shooter Heri.
The lawyers for all the suspects are denying the accusations. Juniver Girsang, Antasari's lawyer, said that charging his client with planning murder simply over an alleged love affair was ridiculous.
"That is not enough of a reason to kill Nasruddin. I believe there is a conspiracy involving top officials to frame my client," Juniver said.
Yohanes Jacob, the lawyer for Wiliardi, denied that his client had ordered Edo kill Nasruddin. "The man was hired for a 'special job'. What the job was exactly, I don't know. But I guarantee that it was not murder," he said recently.
Sigid's lawyer Deni Pamungkas said his client's relationship with Antasari was purely related to a project involving Sigid's newspaper.
Corruption watchdogs have expressed concern that this case is an attempt to undermine the country's fight against corruption. (bbs)