Key witness Rhani to testify in Antasari's trial today

The high-profile trial of former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Antasari Azhar, charged with murder, will enter a new chapter with the most-awaited key witness Rhani Juliani to give her testimony at Tuesday's hearing.

Antasari is on trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, who was Rhani's husband.

Nasruddin, 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.

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

In a previous hearing, Antasari's lawyers questioned the prosecutors' indictment, saying there was insufficient evidence to support it and it was 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, 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.