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.

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