Yudhoyono says he felt defamed by Antasari who claimed on Tuesday that his murder case was the result of a plot by the then president because Antasari did not comply with Yudhoyono's instructions. Antasari has alleged Yudhoyono was behind the murder case that saw the former KPK chief end up behind bars.

"I believe it is impossible that what Antasari is doing is being done without the blessing of those in power," he said as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Yudhoyono claimed the clemency for Antasari granted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo last month was politically driven.

He added that for the past two months he had heard information that Antasari would be used to attack him and his family. The attack was obviously related to Jakarta’s gubernatorial election, especially as Antasari's claims came a day before polling day on Wednesday.

It was also part of efforts to harm the electability of his eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono who is running in the Jakarta gubernatorial election against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Jokowi's close ally, the former president alleged.

"Dear ruler, be careful in using your power. Don't play with fire or you will get burned. Remember the people and be afraid of God. If a ruler is unfair, then God's justice will prevail," Yudhoyono said.

Separately, Yudhoyono's Democratic Party also filed a report with the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department against Antasari following the latter's claim of political interference in his case.

"We reported him for libel and defamation," said Democratic Party secretary general Didi Irawadi Syamsyuddin as reported by kompas.com.

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