Tight security at Nasruddin murder trials

Tangerang Police deployed hundreds of officers Wednesday to guard Tangerang District Court, which is currently hearing the cases of five suspects accused of the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, who was killed in a drive-by shooting on March 14 in Tangerang.

Sr. Comr. Hamidin, Tangerang city police chief, told Antara news agency his office had deployed 300 officers at the court building.

The suspects, Eduardus “Edo” Ndopo, Hendrikus Kawalaen, Fransiskus Tadon Keran, Heri Santosa and Daniel Daen, are allegedly the “field operatives” of the crime and are currently facing charges of premeditated murder.

Daniel Daen and Hendrikus Kawalaen face the death penalty if found guilty of conspiring to murder the director of pharmacy firm PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran.

State prosecutors alleged the suspects planned the murder in a meeting in Batu Ceper, Tangerang. Hendrikus, or Hendrik, initially planned to use a knife to murder Nasruddin, but later decided to use a gun to minimize risk.

Another defendant, Daniel Dan, said to have joined the group because he wanted to get the Rp 75 million (US$7,500) payment offered by the masterminds of the assassination.

The murder case has also implicated suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari Azhar.

Police have named nine suspects in the murder case, including Sigid Haryo Wibisono, president commissioner of PT Pers Indonesia Merdeka and Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizar, a former South Jakarta police chief. (dre)