Indonesia graft fighter on trial

Prosecutors allege Mr Azhar ordered the killing of Mr Zulkarnaen

The suspended head of Indonesia's anti-corruption agency has been charged with orchestrating the murder of the head of a state-owned pharmaceutical company.

Nasrudin Zulkarnaen was shot dead at a golf course in Jakarta in March.

The prosecutors allege that Antasari Azhar had Mr Zulkarnaen killed over a love triangle with a female golf caddy.

Mr Azhar has denied any wrongdoing, describing his arrest as retaliation for his investigations into corruption among high-ranking officials.

Eight other suspects have also been charged in connection with the death of Mr Zulkarnaen, including a police colonel, a businessman, a newspaper owner and the alleged hitmen.

Optimistic

Prosecutor Cirus Sinaga alleged that Mr Zulkarnaen had attempted to blackmail Mr Azhar over an affair with the 22-year-old golf caddy - who was also Mr Zulkarnaen's third wife.

"Antasari was in a panic and scared," Mr Sinaga said in his indictment.

"He then met [businessman] Sigid and complained about his problem and asked Sigid to find ways to put away or finish the victim."

Mr Zulkarnaen was shot through the window of his car by two people on motorcycles after a golf game.

"The charges against Azhar are clear - he has persuaded other people to kill someone. That's it. It is simple," Mr Sinaga told South Jakarta District Court.

Mr Azhar denied the charge.

"I'm optimistic. I was not involved, 1,000 %. There's a big scenario behind this case, related to my position as the head of the KPK [anti-corruption commission]," he told the court.

As head of the anti-corruption agency for two years until suspended on his arrest in May, Mr Azhar oversaw a number of investigations into government officials.

Despite efforts by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to clamp down on graft, Indonesia is a country that regularly ranks as one of the most corrupt in the world.