Anti-sleaze chief held over murder

JAKARTA - The head of Indonesia's powerful anti-corruption watchdog has been arrested on suspicion of masterminding the murder of a prominent businessman, amid lurid allegations of a love triangle involving a 22-year-old female golf caddy.

Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, the director of a state-owned pharmaceuticals company, was shot in the head through the window of his BMW by two gunmen on motorbikes as he left a golf club on the outskirts of Jakarta in March.

His family claims that both he and the head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Antasari Azhar, a golfing friend, were involved with the caddy, who is now under police protection.

The arrest of Azhar, who has spearheaded the campaign to root out sleaze in Indonesian public life, prompted claims of a conspiracy to undermine the work of the KPK.

Since being appointed two years ago, Azhar has overseen a series of high-profile investigations of government officials.

Azhar has denied any involvement in the murder, saying that his efforts to put high-ranking lawyers, politicians and banking officials behind bars have earned him many enemies. The Attorney-General's office has been forced to deny that it is seeking revenge for the KPK-instigated conviction of senior prosecutors.

Tabloid newspapers have made much of the salacious allegations involving the young caddy, in a case that has gripped the nation. Indonesians have been glued to their televisions, which showed images of Azhar shuffling from his cell in pyjama trousers after a visit from his wife, who brought a soft mattress and a fan to ease his life in detention.

Azhar was declared a suspect after eight hours of questioning at police headquarters, but has not yet been charged.

His arrest will undermine confidence in the KPK, which was regarded as one of Indonesia's few clean institutions. It is also a blow to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who came to power in 2004 on a platform to crack down on corruption.

Despite the high-profile scalps claimed by the KPK, which was established in 2003, Indonesia is still considered one of the world's most corrupt countries. Some anti-sleaze campaigners said Azhar's arrest demonstrated that no one was immune from prosecution any more.

- INDEPENDENT