TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The truth behind the report by Antasari of a conspiracy behind the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, must be uncovered. If it is allowed to remain unexplained, the complaint, made alongside charges directed at Indonesia's sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will be seen as a cheap political rumor linked to the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
When he submitted his report to the Police Crime Investigation Division last week, Antasari 'sang' loudly. He accused Yudhoyono of knowing about the plot behind the murder of the Putra Rajawali Banjaran CEO on March 2009. The former chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also claimed that Yudhoyono sent Hary Tanoesoedibjo to plead that the detention of Aulia Pohanfather of Yudhoyono's daughter-in-law, caught up in a corruption case involving funds in a foundation owned by Bank Indonesiabe delayed.
Antasari seems to be trying to link the Aulia case, which was investigated before he became KPK chairman, to the murder of Nasrudin, which took place almost a year later. Antasari's attack on Yudhoyono was launched a day before the Jakarta gubernatorial election, one of the contestants being Agus Harimurti, Yudhoyono's son. It is not easy to determine the negative impact of this rumor on Agus. But it is clear that he was eliminated in the first round of the voting.
When he was released on parole last November, Antasari said he was not seeking revenge. But recently, he has pried open the irregularities on how his case was handled. The impression of politicking was unavoidable because Antasari sprang into action as soon as he received clemency from President Joko Widodo on January 16. And it was rather improper for Jokowi to invite the former inmate to the Palace.
As a former law enforcement official, Antasari should understand that making arbitrary accusations can boomerang on the accuser. In order to avoid charges of taking advantage of his case for political motives, Antasari should produce convincing evidence to back up his words.
At his trial eight years ago, there were many questionable gaps in the evidence showing Antasari's involvement in the murder of Nasrudin. For example, the text message on Nasrudin's phone said to be a threat from Antasari was never produced in court. The difference between the type of bullet and the gun used to shoot him was never explained. If he was innocent, Antasari has the right to demand justice, a pardon and even compensation from the state.
The problem is that there is almost no legal process that can prove Antasari to be 'clean'. Antasari asked for a judicial review of the case, but his request was turned down by the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Court has since downgraded the provision on the number of judicial reviews allowed on criminal cases, restricting it to only one. But the Supreme Court set aside this ruling. And by asking for clemency, in a legal sense, Antasari has admitted his guilt. It would be strange if Antasari insisted he was innocent while enjoying the 'blessing' of Jokowi's clemency.
Instead of spending time and energy rejecting accusations of links to Antasari, it would be more productive if Jokowi asked the national police chief to uncover the truth behind allegations of a conspiracy behind Nasrudin's murder. The police must investigate every indication of a plot behind the case. Who knows, new suspects might emerge, in addition to the people who were tried.
Even if we cannot turn back time, shedding light on the Nasrudin case is important for the integrity of the law in this nation. (*)
Read the full story in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
