(JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
Lawyers for former antigraft leader Antasari Azhar have called the indictment of their client, replete with graphic descriptions of a sex scene involving key witness Rhani Juliani, “a sleazy fairy tale” aimed at undermining his credibility.
Defense lawyer Juniver Girsang said on Thursday that because the indictment was based only on the testimony of one witness, there was insufficient evidence to continue.
“The story was embellished by prosecutors to paint the defendant in a bad light,” Juniver said.
Antasari, recently dismissed from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is charged with masterminding the murder of Rhani’s husband, businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen.
The latter was killed in a drive-by shooting outside the Modernland golf course in Tangerang in March.
Antasari is alleged to have enlisted the help of media tycoon Sigid Hari Wibisono and former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizar in the incident.
Both Sigid and Wiliardi are also standing trial for murder.
During last week’s indictment, lead prosecutor Cirus Sinaga recounted in detail a sex scene between Antasari and Rhani in a room at the Grand Mahakam Hotel in South Jakarta in May 2008.
Prosecutors alleged Nasruddin then rushed into the room and later hounded Antasari’s family about the affair, thus prompting the former antigraft chief to have him killed.
Defense lawyers presented Thursday evidence and testimonies to refute the sex scene.
Hotma Sitompul, one of the lawyers, said it made no sense for Antasari to invite Rhani and Nasruddin at the same time if the defendant really planned to sleep with the witness in the presence of her husband.
“The whole story is a sham cooked up to remove Antasari from his position,” he said.
Antasari alleged certain parties were worried about his investigations into graft cases while he chaired the KPK, and wanted to stop him by defaming him.
“If I weren’t the KPK chairman, I’d never been indicted on such charges [of murder sparked by adultery].”
Antasari said previously he had been terrorized by parties who opposed his efforts with the KPK, including verbal insults to his family and slander graffiti on the walls of the commission’s office on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta.
Antasari took up the reins at the KPK in 2007 from Taufiequrrahman Ruki, who was often criticized for only taking on the small fry.
With Antasari at the helm, the KPK ran riot with the previously untouchable members of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), police and House of Representatives.
One high-profile case involved senior AGO prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan, who was convicted of bribery in connection with the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support (BLBI) scandal. Former central bank governor Burhanudin Abdullah was jailed for five years in the same case.
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