Antasari behind bars for 18 years

(News Terupdate) - A court has found former antigraft chief Antasari Azhar guilty of masterminding the murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, dismissing speculation of a political plot during the trial.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday, the same as an earlier verdict given to one of the five hitmen in the same case. The court ruled there were no considerations in favor of Antasari, for whom prosecutors had sought the death sentence.

Earlier the South Jakarta District Court also sentenced three other defendants — Sigid Hermawan Wibisono, Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizard and Jerry Hermawan Lo — to 15, 12 and 5 years in prison, respectively.

A panel of three judges told a court hearing the evidence presented strongly pointed at the involvement of Antasari in the March 2009 murder.

“We learned the defendant met Sigid Hermawan Wibisono and Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizard [two other defendants] to discuss ways to eliminate the threat he faced,” presiding judge Herri Swantoro said.

“By giving pictures of the victim along with his car to Williardi, there is no doubt the defendant had given opportunities and motives to other people [to commit the murder].”

Nasruddin, a director of state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was killed in a drive-by shooting near Modernland golf course in Tangerang.

In their indictment, prosecutors said Nasruddin had caught Antasari, the former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief, with Rhani, Nasruddin’s third wife, in a hotel room in South Jakarta.

Prosecutors said Nasruddin used the incident as leverage to blackmail Antasari and request his help to advance his position in the company.

They believe this led to Antasari wanting to have Nasruddin killed, with help from former South Jakarta police chief Williardi, businessman Jerry Hermawan Lo, who allegedly recruited the hit men, and Sigid, a media tycoon who allegedly provided financial backing.

Antasari, however, said he would challenge the verdict.

Mohammad Assegaf, one of his lawyers, said the judges had not responded to claims of a conspiracy previously endorsed by the defense lawyers.

The judges “only included the meeting between the defendant, Sigid and Williardi into consideration but surprisingly, did not elaborate on why Sigid needed to record conversations at the meeting with no one’s acknowledgement,” Assegaf said after the trial.

Antasari has repeatedly pleaded not guilty, saying he was set up by a “third party” to remove him from his post at the KPK.

Under his leadership between 2007 and early 2009, the KPK successfully prosecuted a large number of legislators, officials and prominent figures in numerous graft cases.

Antasari has claimed that many resented this and would do anything to undermine the KPK’s fight against
corruption.

Williardi had earlier testified that he was approached by his colleagues and former National Police deputy chief detective Insp. Gen. Hadiatmoko to make a dossier to convict Antasari.

Protesters rallied outside the court demanding Antasari’s acquittal, while Nasruddin’s supporters called for the maximum sentences for all defendants.


THE FALL OF THE ANTIGRAFT STAR

2009
March 14: Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, the director of state owned firm PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, is killed in a drive-by shooting.

Apr. 30: Williardi Wizard is arrested; in his dossier he explains the involvement of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari Azhar. He said he met with Antasari in the house of Sigid Haryo Wibisono to discuss the plan to murder Nasruddin.

May 4: The police declare Antasari a suspect in the murder case, claiming Nasruddin’s third wife Rhani Juliani had testified against him.

Aug. 25: The police hand over the dossier of the case to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO).

Sept. 28: The AGO hands down the dossier to the South Jakarta Attorney’s Office.

Oct. 8: First hearing of Antasari, Williardi and Sigid.

Nov. 10: Williardi testifies at Antasari’s trial, saying Antasari was set up. He said he was forced by then deputy chief detective Insp. Gen Hadiatmoko, then Jakarta Police’s head of operations Insp. Gen Irawan Dahlan, and Sr. Comr. M. Iriawan to testify against Antasari.

Nov. 17: Insp. Gen. Hadiatmoko and Sr. Comr. M. Iriawan testify in Antasari’s trial and deny they had forced Williardi to testify against Antasari.

Dec. 10: Forensic officer Mun’im Idris testifies at Antasari’s trial that the Police’s Central Forensic Laboratory had asked him to eliminate the forensic results of Nasruddin’s body, but he refused. He said Nasruddin was shot from a distance.

Dec. 23: Tangerang District Court sentences five men for killing Nasruddin: Daniel Daeng Sabon, Eduardus Ndopo Mbete, Hendrikus Kia Walen, Fransiskus Tadon Kerans and Heri Santoso to up to 18 years in jail.

2010
Jan. 8: Former National Police detectives chief Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, testifies that he is not involved in the murder, saying that National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri directly ordered Insp. Gen. Hadiatmoko to supervise the investigation.

Jan. 19: Prosecutors seek the death sentence for Antasari.

Jan. 28: Antasari pleads not guilty.

Feb. 11: Court hands down a verdict of 18 years’ imprisonment to Antasari for masterminding Nasruddin’s murder.

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