Skip to main content

Indonesia's anti-corruption boss named as suspect in 'love triangle' murder


THE head of Indonesia's powerful anti-corruption watchdog, Antasari Azhar, has been named as a suspect in the Mafia-style execution of a senior executive, amid allegations of a love triangle gone wrong. But Mr Azhar's lawyer has dismissed the notion his client masterminded the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, describing it as a conspiracy to destroy a graft-busting crime fighter.

The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, is one of Indonesia's most respected institutions, an independent body set up by the Government to tackle Indonesia's endemic culture of graft.It has claimed high-profile scalps and bolstered the credentials of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at home and abroad.But its reputation took a hit when a spokesman for Attorney-General Hendarman Supandji said on Friday that Mr Azhar was the suspected "brains" behind the murder of Mr Zulkarnaen, an executive with a state-owned pharmaceutical company.A travel ban has been imposed on Mr Azhar, before his interrogation by police.Mr Zulkarnaen was shot in the head by a motorcycle-riding gunman as he left a golf course south of Jakarta in his BMW on March 14.

Two days later, police reportedly found a text message on Mr Zulkarnaen's mobile phone from Mr Azhar, which allegedly read: "You know the risk."Police were then alerted to Mr Zulkarnaen's involvement with a young woman named by the Antara news agency as Rani Julianti. Mr Zulkarnaen's family and lawyers claim Mr Azhar was also infatuated with the 22-year-old woman, said to be a golf caddy. According to a family friend, Mr Zulkarnaen threatened to expose Mr Azhar's relationship with Ms Julianti to Jakarta's voracious gossip media, prompting the alleged threat to his life via SMS.A friend and golf partner of Mr Zulkarnaen, Jeffrey Lumempouw, said he was told of the message on the course just hours before the execution."The name of Antasari was in the text message," he told the Indonesian media.

A lawyer for Mr Azhar, Juniver Girsang, denied his client had any relationship with Ms Julianti, and said there was a conspiracy to besmirch Mr Azhar's reputation.Among those caught by the KPK have been senior staff at the Attorney-General' s Department. The eagerness of Mr Supandji to name Mr Azhar before his interview with police has also raised suspicions.Police have already arrested the alleged gunman, reportedly an East Timorese native who fought with the pro-Indonesian militia and was "skilled at shooting". His driver has also been detained, as has the "recruiter" of the gunman, apparently a senior police officer from Jakarta.Two other men, allegedly the financiers of the plot, have also been arrested. One is Sigit Haryo Wibisono, the owner of the Harian Merdeka newspaper.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If Soeharto became National Hero

Three short years after his death, Indonesia's dictator Suharto has been   nominated to a shortlist to be designated a "National Hero." The final decision   rests with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. and any honors will likely be   announced on November 10, Heroes’ Day. President Obama is scheduled to visit  Indonesia around that date.  After Suharto died in January 2008, Indonesia's former dictator General Suharto   has died in bed and not in jail, escaping justice for his numerous crimes in   East Timor and throughout the Indonesian archipelago. One of the worst mass   murderers of the 20th century, his death tolls still shock... We cannot forget that the United States government consistently supported   Suharto and his regime. As the corpses piled up after his coup and darkness   descended on Indonesia, his cheerleaders in the U.S. welcomed the "gleam of   light in Asia." In the pursuit of realpolitik, U.S. administration after administration, fully
2 comments
Read more

child sex workers in Bandung

A policeman, right, watches over two masseuses and their customers during a raid on suspected prostitution activities at a hotel in Changchun, in northeast China's Jilin province The Bandung authority is at loss to uncover cases of covert prostitution involving junior and senior high school students, whose number continues to rise in the West Java capital. Eli, a sex worker advocacy program mentor from the Rumah Cemara Group in Bandung, said it was hard to provide advocacy to teenagers involved in covert prostitution since most were not receptive. The number of those involved in covert prostitution is believed to be higher compared to commercial sex on the streets, she added. Eli has been providing support to more than 200 housewives and child sex workers over the past two years, around 20 of who are senior high school students between the ages of 15 and 16. "They are psychologically unstable at those ages. They are hard to handle due to their strong motivation to ea
Post a Comment
Read more

MUI Says Al-Qiyadah Al-Islamiyah is Misleading

The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) said Al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah, which first appeared in 2000, is a misleading sect. The decision was taken after MUI researched the organization for the last three months."Up to 2006, this sect wasn't brave enough to appear. But starting in 2007, they bluntly spread their lessons to the public," MUI Chairman, K.H. Ma'ruf, told the press yesterday (4/10). For a sect that is only seven years old, he viewed, its progress is rapid. The structure is in order and the leaders easily attract public sympathy. Al-Qiyadah's leader, Ahmad Moshaddeq, whose real name is Haji Salam, said he was an apostle since July 23, 2007 after ascetic meditation for 40 days and nights in Bunder Mount, Bogor, West Java. "They even changed Islam to existing apostle or prophet after Muhammad, that is Masih Al-Mau'ud," said Ma'ruf.For gaining devotees, according to Ma'ruf, Ahmad promised rewards of a motorcycle for those who can recruit 40
1 comment
Read more