T

he high-profile trial of former antigraft commission chief Antasari Azhar, charged with murder, will enter a new chapter with prosecutors being set to call the most-awaited key witness Rhani Juliani at Tuesday's hearing.

The plan was announced Thursday after the judges turned down a motion by Antasari's lawyers to dismiss the charges.

"We order the prosecutors to continue the legal proceedings according to the criminal justice procedure," presiding judge Herri Swantoro said at the hearing at the South Jakarta District Court.

Antasari, former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is on trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, who was also Rhani's husband.

Nasrudin, a director at state pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was killed in a drive-by shooting outside the Modernland golf course in Tangerang in March this year.

Following the overruling of the defense motion to dismiss charges, lead prosecutor Cirus Sinaga confirmed his team had prepared 45 witnesses for the trial, five of whom would be presented at Tuesday's hearing.

Besides Rhani, the four other witnesses set to take the stand Tuesday are Rusli, the first police officer at the crime scene; Suparmin, Nasrudin's driver; Sri Martuti, Nasrudin's first wife, and Irawati Arienda, Nasrudin's second wife, Cirus said.

In a previous hearing, Antasari's lawyers questioned prosecutors' indictment, saying there was insufficient evidence to support it and a clear move to undermine Antasari's good standing through the graphic description of a sex act between Antasari and Rhani in a room at the Grand Mahakam Hotel in South Jakarta in May last year.

Prosecutors, however, insist their indictment is clear and strong.

Since the case first came into the public view, the 22-year-old Rhani, a former golf caddie, has been under police protection.

She first appeared in public in June, two months after the police had arrested all the suspects in her husband's murder, but has not spoken to the press.

Also standing trial for the murder are media tycoon Sigid Haryo Wibisono and former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizar.