The family of Ira Puspadewi, former President Director of PT Angkutan Sungai, Danau, dan Penyeberangan (ASDP) Indonesia Ferry (Persero), has urged President Prabowo Subianto to intervene and review the legal proceedings against Ira and two other ASDP officials.
This urgent appeal was formally conveyed by Zaim Uchrowi, Ira’s husband, in a letter dated August 14. Katadata obtained permission from Zaim to quote directly from this significant correspondence.
In his letter, Zaim highlighted the substantial contributions made by Ira, along with ASDP Commercial and Services Director Yusuf Hadi, and former ASDP Planning and Development Director Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono, in significantly advancing the state-owned enterprise.
“These individuals should not be facing trial; rather, they deserve commendation,” Zaim asserted. He elaborated, “Indonesia desperately needs many more professionals of their caliber to achieve developed nation status. Yet, all too often, the legal system unfortunately becomes an impediment.”
Zaim further detailed Ira’s distinguished career, noting her as one of the few women to lead a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) and recipient of the prestigious Kartini Award 2024. He underscored that her career began at the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), an experience that rigorously trained her to uphold strict principles regarding conflicts of interest.
Her most extensive tenure was with a San Francisco-based multinational corporation, known for brands like GAP and Banana Republic, where she rose to the position of Regional Director for Asia, Zaim added.
Elaborating on Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono’s background, Zaim described him as an outstanding alumnus of the University of Indonesia, whose career trajectory included significant roles at PT Jababeka and Angkasa Pura. Zaim emphasized that Harry was a crucial asset in business planning and development.
“Consequently, he was held up as an exemplary model for the development of young talent within BUMNs,” Zaim stated.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Hadi, an ASDP Director, began his career as a contract employee in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Zaim highlighted that Yusuf’s extensive experience across various operational regions provided him with an unparalleled mastery of the intricacies of ferry transportation.
He is widely renowned as a ‘walking encyclopedia’ of Indonesia’s ferry world, Zaim noted.
Zaim argued that ASDP’s decision to acquire PT Jembatan Nusantara was a strategic move aimed at reinforcing its ferry services. This acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara’s assets was perceived as highly impactful for ASDP’s overall performance.
He pointed out that this initiative dramatically increased ASDP’s commercial ferry fleet by 70%, expanding it from 73 to 126 units. This significant expansion, Zaim underscored, propelled ASDP’s market share to 33.5%.
Furthermore, the acquisition was also critical in strengthening the sustainability of public services in Indonesia’s 3T regions (tertinggal, terdepan, dan terluar – underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost areas). This was achieved by enabling ASDP to significantly broaden its reach and increase the frequency of its ferry crossings.
Zaim subsequently urged President Prabowo to revisit and correct current law enforcement practices, drawing parallels to several previous instances where the President had intervened.
Specifically, Zaim referenced occasions when President Prabowo granted abolition to former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto.
“It is not uncommon for the law itself to require correction, much like Your Excellency has recently demonstrated through acts of abolition and amnesty,” Zaim stated, emphasizing his plea.
In a related development, Ira Puspadewi herself also extended a personal plea to President Prabowo Subianto, requesting legal protection for BUMN professionals.
Ira conveyed this request following her conviction and a 4.5-year prison sentence in the case concerning the acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara shares between 2019 and 2022. The verdict was pronounced by judges at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor) on Thursday, November 20, in the afternoon.
“I appeal for legal protection for BUMN professionals, so that significant breakthroughs are celebrated and rewarded, not criminalized,” Ira urged.
Ira firmly asserted that she, along with other ASDP officials, did not engage in corruption. She meticulously explained that the acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara held immense strategic value for both ASDP and the nation as a whole.
The primary objective of the acquisition, she clarified, was to bolster ferry services, particularly in Indonesia’s 3T regions (outermost, frontier, and underdeveloped areas). “As even the judges acknowledged, we committed no corruption whatsoever,” she concluded.
Summary
Keluarga Ira Puspadewi, mantan Direktur Utama PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, melalui suaminya Zaim Uchrowi, mendesak Presiden Prabowo Subianto untuk meninjau proses hukum yang menjerat Ira dan dua direktur ASDP berprestasi lainnya. Zaim berargumen bahwa Ira, Yusuf Hadi, dan Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono telah memberikan kontribusi besar dalam memajukan BUMN tersebut dan seharusnya mendapatkan apresiasi. Ia menekankan pentingnya melindungi profesional BUMN yang berprestasi agar inovasi dihargai, bukan dikriminalisasi.
Kasus hukum ini terkait akuisisi PT Jembatan Nusantara, yang menurut Zaim merupakan langkah strategis untuk memperkuat layanan ASDP, meningkatkan armada, dan melayani wilayah 3T. Meskipun Ira Puspadewi telah divonis 4,5 tahun penjara dalam kasus akuisisi saham tersebut, ia menegaskan tidak ada korupsi yang terjadi dan bahwa akuisisi tersebut memiliki nilai strategis tinggi bagi negara. Ira pun memohon perlindungan hukum bagi para profesional BUMN agar terobosan signifikan diapresiasi dan bukan justru dipidana.
