Husband of Former ASDP Director Seeks Prabowo’s Protection: What’s Going On?

The alleged corruption case involving the acquisition of PT Jembatan Nusantara by PT Angkutan Sungai, Danau, dan Penyeberangan (ASDP) Indonesia Ferry (Persero) has garnered significant attention following the Central Jakarta Corruption Court’s verdict. The court sentenced Ira Puspadewi, who served as ASDP’s President Director from 2017 to 202, to 4.5 years in prison.

In response to his wife’s conviction, Ira’s husband, Zaim Uchrowi, has penned an open letter addressed to President Prabowo Subianto. The letter specifically seeks legal protection for his wife and two other former directors implicated in the case: Muhammad Yusuf Hadi and Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono.

“We hope the President will protect professionals who work tirelessly to build this nation. As for the form of protection, surely the President knows best what needs to be done,” Zaim stated to Katadatata.co.id, elaborating on the intent behind his widely circulated open letter.

In the letter, the family asserts that the alleged state loss of Rp 1.253 trillion is illogical and inconsistent with the findings of financial auditing bodies. They firmly deny any flow of corrupt funds to the former directors, highlighting that the Jembatan Nusantara acquisition process received approval from the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS), oversight from supervising authorities, and a “fair” rating in its audit.

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The family specifically questions the foundation of the state loss calculation used as the basis for the indictment. Zaim also underscored ASDP’s significant contributions during Ira Puspadewi’s leadership, which included a comprehensive transformation of ferry services, a notable improvement in financial performance, and a strengthening of public services in Indonesia’s Frontier, Outermost, and Underdeveloped (3T) regions.

He views the Jembatan Nusantara acquisition as a critical strategic move designed to expand ASDP’s capacity and enhance the sustainability of ferry services, which are vital lifelines for communities in remote areas.

Through this heartfelt open letter, the family expresses their hope that the President will intervene to provide legal protection and ensure that the legal process proceeds objectively. They argue that the case has severely impacted the personal lives of the three former directors and contend that the current indictment could potentially harm other dedicated professionals contributing positively to the state-owned enterprise (SOE) sector.

Below is the complete copy of Zaim Uchrowi’s open letter.

To The Honorable Mr. Prabowo Subianto

President of the Republic of Indonesia

Subject: Open letter requesting legal protection for Ira Puspadewi, Muhammad Yusuf Hadi, and Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono, former Directors of ASDP

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

May you, Mr. President, always be under the protection of Allah, the One Almighty God, in leading Indonesia to become a developed, just, and prosperous nation for all its citizens, in line with the ideals of independence in 1945.

Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, allow us, as citizens, to report the legal injustice that has befallen our family members: Ira Puspadewi, Muhammad Yusuf Hadi, and Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono. They were directors of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) when this state-owned enterprise (SOE) acquired PT Jembatan Nusantara (JN) in 2022.

Since July 10, 2025, the three individuals have been tried at the Central Jakarta District Court, accused of causing state losses amounting to Rp 1.253 trillion from an acquisition price of Rp 1.272 trillion. Yet, not a single penny was taken by them. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) and other authorized institutions collaborating with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also found no “flow of corrupt money,” as they are unequivocally not corrupt.

However, our anti-corruption law is flawed, Mr. President, deviating from its universal understanding. Everyone understands corruption as stealing funds from one’s own office, in any form. This is consistent with laws in all countries worldwide. Here, however, the law has its own definition of corruption, not as ‘an act of theft’ but as ‘an act that causes state losses.’

Consequently, Ira, Yusuf, and Harry were prosecuted on corruption charges, accused not of enriching themselves, but of enriching others. This indictment is completely illogical to us. Is there anyone in this world willing to sacrifice themselves merely to enrich others?

The figure for state losses is even more peculiar. From a purchase price of Rp 1.272 trillion, a loss of Rp 1.253 trillion is claimed. This implies that the nation’s second-largest ferry company, PT Jembatan Nusantara, was valued at only Rp 19 billion. To put this in perspective, a single Safira Nusantara vessel, weighing 6,345 GRT, is valued at Rp 127 billion. Yet, JN possessed 53 operational vessels and contributed Rp 1.8 trillion in revenue to ASDP over three years.

If the stated state loss figure were accurate, it would mean the acquisition price for JN was inflated by an astounding 6,600 percent. Is it truly possible for an acquisition value like ASDP’s acquisition of JN to be overpriced by 6,600 percent? Absolutely not. This calculation of state losses is clearly a blatant falsehood, designed for no other purpose than to deliberately dismantle the lives of the accused.

Dear Mr. President,

Under Ira Puspadewi’s effective leadership, ASDP has flourished into one of the most progressive and financially sound state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Both revenue and profit have seen rapid annual growth, with profits soaring from Rp 318 billion in 2019 to Rp 637 billion in 2023. Despite not being a large SOE, ASDP commendably became the 7th largest non-public SOE dividend contributor to the state in 2022.

The ferry services, once often perceived as squalid and unsafe, have undergone a profound transformation. This initiative revitalized old ferry terminals into orderly, clean, secure, and pleasant environments. Furthermore, ASDP successfully completed the development of the waterfront area in Labuan Bajo, establishing it as a new global tourism hub, and also spearheaded the construction of Bakauheni Harbour City.

Despite these numerous achievements, a fundamental issue persisted for years since ASDP’s establishment in 1973: the precarious sustainability of public services in Frontier, Outermost, and Underdeveloped (3T) regions. ASDP remains the sole ferry company tasked by the state with serving the residents of these vital 3T areas.

The daily activities and essential needs of citizens on remote islands heavily rely on ASDP’s ferry services. Any disruption to these services can critically impede the supply of basic necessities, whether due to natural phenomena or operational issues on various routes. A recent example is Enggano Island, which was isolated for four months due to harbor silting.

Out of approximately 300 ASDP routes, 70 percent are allocated to these 3T region services. The state budget for these services is minimal, often resulting in deficits, necessitating subsidies from ASDP’s commercial operations on its remaining 30 percent of routes. To ensure the continuity of 3T region services, ASDP urgently needs to expand its commercial ferry fleet. The critical question then becomes: how can this be achieved?

The most crucial factor in expanding the ferry fleet lies in acquiring operational permits. While vessels can be purchased, often at high costs and with long lead times, ferry operating permits are severely limited, constrained by Ministerial Regulation No. 104 of 2017. To significantly increase the number of ferries, it becomes imperative to acquire companies, as these valuable operating permits are intrinsically tied to the company itself, not merely to individual vessels. Furthermore, an acquisition immediately generates cash revenue.

In global business theory and practice, acquisitions and mergers are recognized as the most effective strategies for business expansion. Corporations can achieve rapid inorganic growth through acquisitions. This sentiment was echoed at a seminar organized by the Indonesian Accountants Association (IAI) and the Indonesia Strategic Management Society (ISMS) on November 7, 2024, which encouraged “state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to boldly undertake acquisitions to develop their businesses, provided there is legal certainty.”

Following this strategic imperative, ASDP proceeded to acquire or purchase PT Jembatan Nusantara (JN) on February 22, 2022. This pivotal decision was collectively made by all directors, received a recommendation from the Board of Commissioners, and was ultimately approved by the SOE Minister in his capacity as the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS). The entire process was meticulously supervised by Jamdatun (State Attorney General’s Office) and the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP), involved seven official consultants and public appraisers (KJPP), and fully adhered to good corporate governance (GCG) principles. Importantly, this acquisition was also audited by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) and declared “fair,” as detailed in their report dated March 14, 2023.

As a direct result of this acquisition, ASDP’s commercial ferry fleet surged by 70 percent, increasing from 73 to 126 vessels. Its market share climbed to 33.5 percent, solidifying ASDP’s position as a market leader. Critically, the sustainability of public services in 3T regions became more assured. Beyond this, ASDP emerged as the world’s largest ferry company in terms of both vessel count (220) and routes (317). Few state-owned enterprises achieve such global leadership in their respective fields as ASDP has.

Despite the immense importance of this acquisition for ASDP and the public it serves, it has regrettably been slandered and prosecuted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The narrative suggests ASDP purchased old vessels at exorbitant prices. However, the age of the vessels is largely irrelevant in this context. The average age of Indonesian ferries, including JN’s fleet, ranges from 30-40 years. A ferry’s eligibility is determined not by its age, but by its seaworthiness and operational certification.

Furthermore, every vessel undergoes rejuvenation of its components during annual docking. ASDP itself operates ferries that are half a century old and continue to perform effectively. Crucially, in this acquisition, ASDP was not merely buying ships; it was acquiring a robust ferry business that directly generates Rp 600 billion per year. The acquisition price of Rp 1.272 trillion is, in fact, only twice this annual revenue.

Yet, the law appears to have become a soulless machine, crushing anyone in its sights. Since the end of the previous KPK leadership’s tenure, Ira, Yusuf, and Harry have been designated as corruption suspects and subsequently detained. Images of them handcuffed and wearing orange vests were widely disseminated through the media, accompanied by fabricated, incriminating narratives.

The undeniable fact that there was no corruption in this acquisition was completely disregarded. If corruption truly existed, there would undoubtedly be a calculation of state losses from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) or the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) as the authorized institutions. Instead, the findings of BPK and BPKP were ignored. A self-serving narrative and calculation were concocted to ensure the culpability of these three former ASDP directors, including the fabricated lie of a 6,600 percent overpricing that supposedly “harmed the state.”

It is truly lamentable that such legal practices occur in this Pancasila nation—a country where the values of God and humanity should be held in the highest regard. Even Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala no longer seems to be feared by a handful of investigators and auditors who would brazenly fabricate falsehoods for personal gain. Subsequently, under the guise of carrying out duties, everyone else appears compelled to follow suit.

Dear Mr. President,

Ira, Yusuf, and Harry are dedicated professionals who have worked tirelessly and contributed significantly to nation-building. Harry, for instance, was a top-performing student at the University of Indonesia before embarking on a career at Jababeka and Angkasa Pura. In both private corporations and state-owned enterprises, he was a key figure in business planning and development, serving as an exemplary model for the development of young SOE talent.

Yusuf, an ASDP Director, meticulously built his career from the ground up, starting as a contract employee in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. He is a diligent learner with extensive experience serving in various remote regions, making him profoundly knowledgeable about the intricacies of the ferry industry, and earning him the moniker “the walking dictionary” of Indonesia’s ferry world.

Ira Puspadewi stands as one of the few women to reach the pinnacle of state-owned enterprise executive leadership, an achievement recognized with the prestigious Kartini Award 2024. She began her career at the non-profit organization YLKI, where she was rigorously trained in matters of conflict of interest. Her longest tenure was with a San Francisco-based multinational company, owner of the GAP and Banana Republic brands, where she held the prominent position of Asia Regional Director.

Ira had extensive career opportunities abroad, but she chose to return to her homeland when requested by the SOE Minister to revitalize Sarinah, an iconic symbol of Indonesian pride. Ira was driven by a vision to cultivate global work standards and culture within the state-owned enterprise environment. This dedication was evident in her work at PT Sarinah, PT Pos, and ultimately in her successful leadership of ASDP’s transformation.

Through their work at ASDP, Ira, Yusuf, and Harry have accomplished great things for this nation, entirely without bribes, gratuities, or any form of corruption. Even the presiding judge in their trial repeatedly questioned a witness, asking, “So what exactly is the problem that led this case to be brought here (to this court)?”

These professionals should undoubtedly be appreciated, not prosecuted. Indonesia desperately needs more professionals of their caliber to achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation. Unfortunately, the law too often becomes an impediment to these very professionals. Frequently, the law itself requires correction, much like the President has recently demonstrated through his acts of abolition and amnesty.

Therefore, on this occasion, we humbly implore you, Mr. President, to extend legal protection to Ira Puspadewi, Muhammad Yusuf Hadi, and Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono. Their lives, and those of our families, have been irrevocably damaged—socially, economically, and most profoundly, mentally. Yet, these three individuals have committed no crime whatsoever. We earnestly request your assistance in allowing them to breathe the air of freedom in this beloved Republic of Indonesia, now celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude for your attention, Mr. President. May God Almighty reward you with His blessings.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Zaim Uchrowi

Representative of the families of Ira Puspadewi, Muhammad Yusuf Hadi, and Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono