Antasari pleads not guilty

Self-defense: Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Antasari Azhar, one of the defendants in the high-profile murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, read his legal defense against the charges at the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday. Antara/Prasetyo Utomo

Antasari Azhar, one of the defendants in the high-profile murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, blaming the role of a "third party" in setting up the murder in order to remove him from his post as antigraft body leader.

"Under my leadership, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had successfully nailed a significant numbers of lawmakers, country officials and prominent figures in various graft cases," Antasari read from his legal defense in a hearing at the South Jakarta Court District.

"There is no doubt that there were parties who did not like this and wanted to tackle our fight against corruption in the country."

Antasari said the prosecutors' request for the death penalty was baseless, as many of the facts involved in the charges were fabricated.

Nasruddin, a director in state pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, was killed in March last year in a drive-by shooting near Modernland golf course in Tangerang.

The police and prosecutors believe the murder was masterminded by Antasari, with help from former South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizard and businessman Jerry Hermawan Lo, who allegedly arranged the recruitment of the hitmen, and Sigid Haryo Wibisono, who allegedly provided the financial support.