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Indonesia jails murder official | Indonesia jails murder official |
(20 minutes later) | |
Former Indonesian corruption chief Antasari Azhar has been jailed for 18 years for murder. | Former Indonesian corruption chief Antasari Azhar has been jailed for 18 years for murder. |
Azhar was convicted of ordering the murder of wealthy businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen last year over an alleged love triangle with a female golf caddy. | Azhar was convicted of ordering the murder of wealthy businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen last year over an alleged love triangle with a female golf caddy. |
Prosecutors had called for the death sentence for Azhar in a trial that gripped the country. | Prosecutors had called for the death sentence for Azhar in a trial that gripped the country. |
Azhar said he was innocent and the charge had been revenge for his work unveiling corruption among officials. | Azhar said he was innocent and the charge had been revenge for his work unveiling corruption among officials. |
Judge Herri Swantoro told the packed Jakarta court room Azhar was guilty of "participating in persuading the carrying out of a premeditated murder". | Judge Herri Swantoro told the packed Jakarta court room Azhar was guilty of "participating in persuading the carrying out of a premeditated murder". |
He said the sentence was "not intended as revenge, but to make the defendant aware of his mistakes". | He said the sentence was "not intended as revenge, but to make the defendant aware of his mistakes". |
Azhar, 56, said he respected the court's verdict but that "as a citizen and law-enforcer" he intended to appeal against it, the AFP news agency reported. | Azhar, 56, said he respected the court's verdict but that "as a citizen and law-enforcer" he intended to appeal against it, the AFP news agency reported. |
Azhar's lawyer said the court had ignored evidence and based the verdict on police documents alone. | Azhar's lawyer said the court had ignored evidence and based the verdict on police documents alone. |
"The verdict did not touch on the evidence. For us, this trial was just a formality," the Associated Press news agency quoted Juniver Girsang as saying. | "The verdict did not touch on the evidence. For us, this trial was just a formality," the Associated Press news agency quoted Juniver Girsang as saying. |
In a separate trial on Thursday, senior police officer Williardi Wizar was jailed for 12 years for recruiting the five men who carried out the killing - currently serving sentences of up to 18 years each - and businessman Sigit Haryo Wibisono was sentenced to 15 years for financing the operation. | In a separate trial on Thursday, senior police officer Williardi Wizar was jailed for 12 years for recruiting the five men who carried out the killing - currently serving sentences of up to 18 years each - and businessman Sigit Haryo Wibisono was sentenced to 15 years for financing the operation. |
Election promise | Election promise |
The trial became known in Indonesia as the "sex, lies and golf scandal". | The trial became known in Indonesia as the "sex, lies and golf scandal". |
Indonesia's corruption battle | Indonesia's corruption battle |
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani said few people were surprised by the guilty verdict, but that the jail term was unexpected, given the prosecution's call for the death sentence. | The BBC's Karishma Vaswani said few people were surprised by the guilty verdict, but that the jail term was unexpected, given the prosecution's call for the death sentence. |
The sentence is being seeing by many as another example of how Indonesia's judiciary favours some but punishes others, says our correspondent. | The sentence is being seeing by many as another example of how Indonesia's judiciary favours some but punishes others, says our correspondent. |
But it is longer than those given to other prominent figures convicted of similar charges. | But it is longer than those given to other prominent figures convicted of similar charges. |
Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of former President Suharto, was sentenced to 15 years in jail for the murder of a supreme court judge. | |
He served less than a third of the sentence before being released in 2006. | He served less than a third of the sentence before being released in 2006. |
Azhar was head of the country's anti-corruption commission, or KPK, until he was suspended on his arrest last May. | Azhar was head of the country's anti-corruption commission, or KPK, until he was suspended on his arrest last May. |
As Indonesia's top corruption fighter, he oversaw a number of successful investigations into government officials. | As Indonesia's top corruption fighter, he oversaw a number of successful investigations into government officials. |
Reducing the country's widespread corruption was a key promise of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election campaign last year. | Reducing the country's widespread corruption was a key promise of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election campaign last year. |
Corruption is seen as a major impediment to foreign investment in Indonesia and is a major source of discontent among ordinary citizens. | Corruption is seen as a major impediment to foreign investment in Indonesia and is a major source of discontent among ordinary citizens. |