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Antasari has sought a quick fix: Witness claims
Hasyim Widhiarto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 11/06/2009 2:35 PM | Headlines
A witness in the high-profile murder trial of former antigraft chairman Antasari Azhar said Thursday the defendant had asked him to help "organize" a plot to counteract alleged violence planned by the victim, Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, against his family.
Media tycoon Sigid Haryo Wibisono told a hearing at the South Jakarta District Court that Antasari had informed him about the plot for the first time in January.
"Antasari said he and his wife often received phone calls accusing him of having had an affair," Sigid said. "He was angry."
According to Sigid, Antasari had told him several times to use violence to settle the problem with Nasruddin.
"He said the problem might be resolved with the aid of thugs," he said.
Antasari, former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), is currently on trial for allegedly masterminding the murder of Nasruddin, a director of state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran.
Nasruddin was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tangerang earlier this year.
In their indictment, the prosecutors recounted details of sexual activity between Nasruddin's third wife Rhani Juliani and Antasari in a room at a South Jakarta hotel in May last year.
The prosecutors believed this had triggered Antasari to have Nasrudin killed. Reportedly Sigid provided the financial support and former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizar, managed the recruitment of the hit men.
Antasari, however, refuted Sigid's testimony saying his explanation was inconsistent.
Thursday's 10-hour hearing also involved key witness Rhani. It was her first testimony in the trial.
At a previous hearing, presiding judge Herri Swantoro ordered that Rhani's testimony be heard in a closed courtroom considering they would be crosschecking facts on the alleged affair between her and Antasari.
Rhani said she met with Antasari in May last year under the instruction of her husband and without knowing the intention, Mohammad Assegaf, one of Antasari's lawyers, reported after the hearing.
Assegaf said Rhani had confirmed the sexual activity described in the indictment, but he said her testimony had a number of holes.
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