Key witness Rhani to testify in closed hearing today

Rhani Juliani, a key witness in a high-profile trial involving anti-graft body KPK's former leader, Antasari Azhar, will testify in a closed hearing on Thursday in the South Jakarta District Court.

"Her testimony will be the most important testimony in this trial," Mohammad Assegaf, one of Antasari lawyers, said.

Antasari, former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is currently on trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, a director in state pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran.

Nasrudin, whom Rhani was married to, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tangerang earlier this year.

Presiding judge Herri Swantoro ordered at a previous hearing to that Rhani testify in a closed courtroom under the consideration that they would cross examine the immoral act that allegedly happened between the defendant and the witness.

In their indictment, the prosecutors had recounted details of a sexual scene between Rhani and Antasari in a room at the Grand Mahakam hotel in South Jakarta in May last year. Nasrudin had suddenly rushed into the room and later hounded Antasari's family about the affair.

The prosecutors believed that this had triggered Antasari to have Nasrudin killed, with help from media tycoon Sigid Haryo Wibisono and former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizar.

Sigid and Williardi would also testify as witnesses in Antasari Thursday's hearing, Assegaf said.