Former deputy chief of Indonesian State Intelligence Agency Muchdi Purwoprajono pleaded not guilty on the murder of human rights activist on Tuesday, complaining on the international pressure on the case.
Muchdi of 58 was accused of misusing his position for premeditating the assassination of activist Munir Said Thalib by arsenic poisoning four years ago.
"We refused all the charges," said Muchdi's lawyer Muhammad Lufti during the court session in the Soth Jakarta district court.
The trial is the first time a high-ranking military figure in the country face justice over the murder of right activist.
Depense lawyers accused that the international pressure on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, particularly by the United States and the European Parliament, had put his client on an unfavorable circumstances.
"The international pressure has been shown by a number of letters sent by the United States' Congress to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono," lawyer Wirawan Adnan said.
Prosecutors have said the murder was an act of revenge after Munir had uncovered the kidnappings of scores of activists allegedly by special forces units under Muchdi's command in the late 1990s.
The scandal led to the sacking of Muchdi from his post, according to the indictment.
Muchdi was arrested on June 19 this years after he was declared suspect.
His alleged implication was found out after the finding of an intensive telephone conversation between him and Pollycarpus before and after the death of Munir on plane during his flight transit from Singapore to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004.
Pollycarpus has been sentenced for 20 years after he was found guilty of assassination.
The court session will be continued on Thursday.
Source:Xinhua
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