http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/nasrudin-knew-he-might-die-says-witness-in-antasari-trial/341367 November 13, 2009 Heru Andriyanto
Nasrudin 'Knew He Might Die', Says Witness in Antasari Trial A police officer accused in the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen on Thursday maintained his controversial claim that police investigators had forced him to make false allegations against the key suspect in the case, former antigraft chief Antasari Azhar. "I'm sticking by Tuesday's testimony," Snr. Comr. Wiliardi Wizar told journalists briefly as he arrived at the courthouse for his own trial. Wiliardi made the shocking accusation while testifying in Antasari's trial as a prosecution witness. He claimed that Antasari had been set up as the target of the case. His testimony came amid allegations that the police and the Attorney General's Office had also attempted to fabricate a case against two deputy chairmen of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). Police have denied both claims. Apolos Djara Bonga, a lawyer for Wiliardi, said he had reported the police to the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas-HAM) for pressuring his client into giving a false statement. "His cellular phone was seized and he was not accompanied by lawyers during the interrogation," Apolos said. Meanwhile, the father of Rani Juliani, a former golf caddie and the murder victim's third wife, testified on Thursday that he and his daughter were just "little people" who didn't want to get involved in politics. Endang Muhammad Hasan, speaking at South Jakarta District Court in Antasari's trial, said his deceased son-in-law Nasrudin, who was shot by gunmen on March 14 and died a day later, had told him that Antasari had been incensed with him. The witness said Nasrudin came to him in mid-January complaining that "somebody was trying to harm him." "I asked him 'Who?' and Nasrudin replied 'Antasari,'?" Endang told the panel of judges. "I asked again 'Which Antasari?' and he said 'The KPK chairman.'?" Endang said Nasrudin, whom he described as being very upset at the time, had threatened to report Antasari to the House of Representatives for having an affair with Rani in a hotel room in South Jakarta. "So I said to him, 'Don't do that, don't involve Rani, we are just little people'. And Nasrudin said 'OK then, but I could die for this.'?" Endang said he had had no knowledge about the affair between his daughter and Antasari at the Grand Mahakam Hotel in Jakarta, which had been described in detail in the prosecutors' indictment. Rani, he said, had introduced Nasrudin as a pilot and married him under the Islamic law locally known as siri, which is not recognized by the government, on July 17, 2007. The wedding was held without any guests except from Rani's relatives, he said. Nasrudin's two other wives have said they didn't know of the existence of third wife Rani. Second wife Irawati Ariendha said Nasrudin had told her that Rani was Antasari's step-daughter while Suparmin, the businessman's former driver, said he also had known Rani as his boss's step-daughter. Rani also testified in a closed-door session at the trial of another defendant, Sigid Haryo Wibisono, a businessman accused of providing Rp 500 million ($53,000) for the murder. Prosecutor Raharjo Krisnanto said later on Thursday that Rani had mainly testified to what had happened several days after she met with Antasari in the hotel room. "Rani said Nasrudin received a text message from Antasari, the contents of which she didn't know, but she knew Nasrudin replied, 'Astaghfirullah, my wife is not that kind of person,'?" Raharjo said. Related articles Antasari Lawyers Question Rani's Account of Hotel Trysts 11:28 PM 05/11/2009 Nasrudin and Antasari Were Friends, Widow Says 9:41 PM 27/10/2009 Sex, Lies and Video Still Playing in Antasari Trial 12:43 PM 22/10/2009 Indonesian Police Question Anti-Corruption Officials On Antasari Allegations 1:47 PM 10/09/2009 Judges Order Closed Court for Caddy Rani in Antasari Trial, Fearing 'Immoral' Testimony 11:04 PM 03/11/2009 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
