Apr.11, 2010, 3:51 PM, Source: The Jakarta Post

Noted lawyer O.C. Kaligis said Sunday he would join a legal team to defend former tax official Bahasyim Assafie, a suspect in a high-profile money laundering case.

Kaligis called his involvement as a solidarity for his friend.

"Yesterday [Saturday] I visited him in the detention center and he asked me for help him," Kaligis told The Jakarta Post over the phone

Kaligis said he he had known Bahasyim for around 25 years.

Bahasyim also has a long-time relationship with top figures like Karni Ilyas, TVOne editor in chief, and Amir Syamsuddin, a senior lawyer and secretary general of the Democratic Party, Kaligis added..

All of us used to hang out together, but we haven't met each other for quite a long time since our schedules were tight," he said.

Jakarta Police's anti-corruption unit arrested Bahasyim Friday after confirming his status as suspect in a money laundering case, which is believed to involve Rp 64 billion (US$7 million) of taxpayers' money.

Bahasyim claimed all the money had been a 'fee' for taxpayers he handled when he was working as tax official, the police say.