Indonesia's former anti-graft chief was sentenced to 18 years in jail on Thursday for his role in the murder of a businessman.
The case dealt a temporary blow to the reputation of the Corruption Eradication Commission, one of Indonesia's key weapons in the fight against graft.
The agency, known as the KPK, quickly resumed its work after the arrest of the former chief, Antasari Azhar. However, Azhar's trial over the past few months has attracted widespread interest from millions of ordinary Indonesians because of the often lurid details.
"Defendant Antasari Azhar has been legitimately proven guilty of participating in persuading the carrying out of a premeditated murder," judge Herri Swantoro told the South Jakarta court.
Azhar had been accused of ordering the murder of Nasrudin Zulkarnaen after the director of a state-owned firm had threatened to reveal that Azhar was having an affair with the businessman's third wife, a caddy at a local golf club.
Azhar, who had potentially faced the death sentence, showed little emotion as the verdict was read out, although some people in the packed court room cried out.
The former anti-graft chief had denied any wrongdoing and insisted he was the victim of a plot to remove him from his post as the head of KPK.
The agency has spearheaded investigations into lawmakers and businessmen in a fight against graft, which has been a key deterrent to investment in Indonesia. Its officials have made many powerful enemies.
