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Antasari Azhar v. SBY: Grudge Match for the Truth of a Cold Case
From his career as the Head of State Attorney of South Jakarta in 2001 to his ascend—and later descend—as the Chairman of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Antasari Azhar has been constantly keeping corruptors on their toes. On May 4th 2009, Azhar was arrested for allegedly plotting the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, the Director of PT Rajawali Putra Banjaran. Azhar was finally decided to be guilty on 2010 and was convicted to 18 years of imprisonment, until only recently when President Joko Widodo granted him clemency, resulting in only a total of 7 years behind the bars. Azhar is now enjoying fresh air and is ready to reveal his rebuttal to the story that brought about his demise.
A PUNCH TO THE GUT BY AZHAR. The latest testimony by Azhar on February 14th 2017 has shaken the nation, by incriminating the former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Businessman/Politician Hary Tanoesoedibjo and Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia Aulia Pohan.
Testimony:
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have some sort of relation/acknowledgment to the case; and
Hary Tanoesoedibjo as the middleman/messenger, pressuring Azhar to not arrest Aulia Pohan with a threat to his life.
The testimony was given at a press hearing inside of the Police Criminal Investigation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, after Azhar submitted a report of his own criminalization to the police.
SBY’S COUNTER HOOK. Not long after the press hearing, various parties related to the three individuals expressed objections, including the Democratic Party, Hotman Paris (a renowned lawyer representing Tanoesoedibjo), the Yudhoyonos, and supporters of either the Democratic Party of the former president. The objecting parties denied Azhar’s testimony, claiming that he is simply trying to generate controversy or is desperate to clear his name. The former president has decided to report Azhar for defamation, contesting Azhar’s report.
"Antasari accused me of being the initiator of the legal case. Emphatically I say the charges were very untrue, baseless, and wild” – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (Cited from: Kompas.com)
JURIES ARE YET TO SCORE. An investigation is conducted, focusing on both reports. Head of Public Information Division of Public Relations Martinus Sitompul stated that a team has been assembled to analyze whether the cases fulfil the elements of crime.
"…, the reports has been submitted to the Directorate General Crime Criminal Investigation Police for investigation. Will be investigated as soon as possible.” – Martinus Sitompul (Cited from: Kompas.com)
CROWDS ARE GOING WILD ON AZHAR. Ranging from uproars to praises, the opinions of the people are varied. Some praises Azhar for his bravery and others defend SBY for his service as the President, while the few that stay on the neutral ground are waiting for the truth to unfold. Although diverse, it seems like more people are standing on Azhar’s side. Either best comments or most liked comments, mostly focused on praising Azhar, or some mocking the former president for the lack of transparency.
ROUND 2? A new chapter of the story is definite, but what will be the outcome of such story. There are possibilities of both parties going to proceed via legal course. Another possibility is that they will solve the issue by a more peaceful and private approach. Either way, the public’s only demand is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
References:
Septiar, Dian. SBY Behind Murder Accusations Against Me: Antasari, The Jakarta Post. Available from [online]: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/02/14/sby-behind-murder accusations-against-me-antasari.html
‘Sengketa’ SBY-Antasari: Inilah Rekam Jejak Antasari Azhar, BBC Indonesia. Available from [online]: http://www.bbc.com/indonesia/trensosial-38968519
Alvionitasari, Rezki. Police Appoints Investigators for Antasari Azhar Report, Tempo.Co. Available from [online]: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/02/17/055847604/Police-Appoints-Investigators-for-Antasari-Azhar-Report
Movanita, Ambaranie Nadia Kemala. Polri Akan Tindak Lanjuti Laporan Antasari Azhar, Kompas.com. Available from [online]: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2017/02/14/18333141/polri.akan.tindak.lanjuti.laporan.antasari.azhar
Ihsanuddin. SBY Akan Tempuh Langkah Hukum terhadap Antasari, Kompas.com. Available from [online]: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2017/02/14/19005661/sby.akan.tempuh.langkah.hukum.terhadap.antasari
