Antasari Azhar, the former Chairman of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has passed away at the age of 72. His demise occurred on Saturday (8/11), and plans are underway for his burial at San Diego Hills, a final resting place renowned for its serene environment.
The news of his passing was confirmed by his legal counsel, Boyamin Saiman. Speaking to Katadata on Saturday (8/11), Saiman stated, “It’s true, I just received confirmation from fellow prosecutors and the management of Asyarif Mosque that Mr. Antasari’s funeral prayer will be held after Asr.” He also conveyed a heartfelt request, urging everyone to forgive any errors the deceased may have committed and to pray for him to receive abundant rewards in the afterlife.
Antasari’s tenure as KPK Chairman, from December 18, 2008, to October 11, 2009, was marked by bold anti-corruption initiatives that captivated public attention. During his leadership, the KPK achieved significant breakthroughs, most notably the arrests of Prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan and Artalyta Suryani. These high-profile detentions were linked to the extensive BLBI (Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance) bribery case involving Syamsul Nursalim, underscoring Antasari’s commitment to combating high-level corruption.
However, his distinguished career took a dramatic turn while he was still serving as KPK Chairman. Antasari became entangled in a high-stakes murder case concerning Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, the Director of PT Rajawali Putra Banjaran. Throughout the ordeal, Antasari vehemently denied all accusations, including claims of an affair that authorities cited as the primary motive behind the murder, maintaining his innocence against all odds.
Following his legal predicament, Antasari embarked on a prolonged journey through the judicial system, pursuing every available avenue from appeals and cassations to judicial reviews (Peninjauan Kembali or PK) and ultimately, a presidential pardon (grasi). His persistence eventually led to President Joko Widodo granting his pardon in 2017. While this significant decision reduced his sentence, it did not entirely expunge his criminal conviction, leaving a complex legacy.
Notably, Antasari had already been granted conditional release from Tangerang Prison on November 10, 2016, prior to his presidential pardon. In his petition for clemency, Antasari continued to assert his innocence, arguing that his case was fraught with suspicious circumstances and marred by the disappearance of crucial evidence, reinforcing his long-standing claims of an unfair trial.
Summary
Antasari Azhar, the former Chairman of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has passed away at the age of 72. His demise, confirmed by legal counsel Boyamin Saiman, leads to plans for his burial at San Diego Hills. During his tenure from December 2008 to October 2009, Antasari spearheaded bold anti-corruption initiatives, including the significant arrests of Prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan and Artalyta Suryani in the high-profile BLBI bribery case.
However, his distinguished career was dramatically interrupted when he became entangled in the murder case of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, a charge he consistently denied. Antasari embarked on an extensive judicial process, eventually receiving a presidential pardon from Joko Widodo in 2017 that reduced his sentence but did not fully expunge his criminal conviction. He steadfastly asserted his innocence throughout, citing suspicious circumstances and crucial missing evidence as proof of an unfair trial.
