KPK urged to continue fighting against graft

The arrest of chief of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Antasari Azhar, who
is accused of masterminding the murder of a businessman, should not put the country's fight against corruption in peril.

A coalition of NGO's — including Transparency International Indonesia (TII), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), the National Consortium for Legal Reformation (KRHN) and the Indonesian Budget Center (IBC) — visited the KPK's office on Jl. HR Rasuna Said, South Jakarta, on Monday, to throw their weight behind the antigraft body's efforts to combat corruption in the country.

Teten Masduki of the TII was optimistic that the KPK's performance would not be affected by the arrest.

“We are not worried at all as all four KPK commissioners took over leadership [of the KPK] last Friday. I hope the KPK’s effort to eradicate corruption will continue even stronger than before,” he said.

Adnan Topan Husodo of the ICW concurred, saying their visit was to show support for the KPK during this hard time.

“We urge the KPK to continue being pro-active in eradicating corruption [in the country]. It can only happen if the KPK's four deputy chairmen handle more high-profile cases than before,” he said.

The Jakarta Police named Antasari a suspect Monday in the murder of Nasruddin Zulkarnain, who was the director of state company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran. After more than seven hours of questioning, Antasari was placed under arrest at the Jakarta police's detention center.

"All the information we have gathered from other suspects pointed to the involvement of AA,” Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Wahyono said.

Nasruddin died on March 15 from gunshot wounds he sustained in a drive-by shooting that took place as he was leaving the Modernland golf course in Tangerang, Banten.

The police have arrested nine suspects, including an official of the National Police, an owner of a newspaper, identified only as SHW, as well as Antasari.

Wahyono refused to reveal the suspected motive behind the murder or Antasari's link to the case and to other arrested suspects.

“We will let the public know the whole thing after we complete the investigation,” he said.

Local media have reported that the murder was a crime of passion tied to Antasari’s alleged affair with Rani Juliani, Nasruddin’s third wife, who works as a caddie at the golf course.

Antasari will be represented by 10 lawyers in the case.

Given the lawyers' records as legal counsellors for corruption suspects at the Corruption Court, Adnan suggested Antasari resign from his post as KPK chairman to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

“Most of the lawyers defending Antasari have previously clashed with the KPK, defending corruption suspects. They [the lawyers] will make him indebted so that he must repay them later," he said.

Noted rock band Slank, who previously helped Antasari in his fight against corruption, also visited the KPK building Monday to show their support.

“The fight against corruption must continue with or without Antasari,” drummer Bimbim told reporters.

Antasari is a former top pro- secutor at the Attorney's General Office (AGO). He gained public notoriety when handling a murder case involving former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Antasari secured the KPK's top post in 2007 with full support from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle legislators in the House of Representatives' Commission III on legal affairs.

The AGO named him a suspect in the murder on Friday, although Antasari denied any involvement in the case Sunday. (hwa)