Proven Corruption, Former ASDP President Director Ira Puspadewi Sentenced To 4.5 Years In Prison

Three defendants in the alleged corruption case in the business cooperation and acquisition process of PT Jembatan Nusantara by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) in 2019-2022 were sentenced to 4 years to 4.5 years in prison.

The three defendants were each President Director of PT ASDP for the 2017 '2024 period, Ira Puspadewi, who was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison.

Meanwhile, the Director of Commercial and Services of PT ASDP for the 2019-2024 period Muhammad Yusuf Hadi and the Director of Planning and Development of PT ASDP for the 2020-2024 period Harry Muhammad Adhi Caksono were each sentenced to 4 years in prison.

"Declaring that the defendants are legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act of corruption jointly as the second alternative indictment," said Chief Judge Sunoto at the trial reading the verdict of the panel of judges at the Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court, Thursday, November 20, as reported by ANTARA.

The panel of judges also imposed a fine on the defendants. For Ira Puspadewi, the fine imposed is Rp. 500 million, provided that if the fine is not paid, it will be replaced (subsider) with imprisonment for three months.

Meanwhile, Yusuf Hadi and Harry Muhammad were sentenced to a fine of Rp. 250 million each, subsidiary to three months in prison.

For their actions, the three defendants were declared to have violated Article 3 in conjunction with Article 18 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

Before passing the verdict, the panel of judges considered the actions of the defendants who did not support the government's program in the context of organizing a clean state, and free from corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), as a weighting matter.

Likewise, the actions of the defendants who abused the trust given by the state as directors of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and the impact of the actions of the defendants which resulted in ASDP being burdened with large debts and obligations, became burdensome considerations.

Meanwhile, the presiding judge stated that the actions of the defendants were not pure mistakes in committing corruption, but heavy negligence without prudence and good faith in the procedures and governance of ASDP corporate actions were considered as an excuse to lighten the verdict.

In addition, other mitigating factors considered, namely that the defendants succeeded in providing inheritance for ASDP, were not proven to have received financial benefits, had family responsibilities, and there were several corporate actions that could be operated for the public interest.

The verdict handed down by the panel of judges was lower than the prosecutor's demands. Previously, Ira was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison, while Yusuf and Harry were each sentenced to 8 years in prison.

Likewise, with the fines imposed, the three were charged with a fine of Rp. 500 million each, subsidiary to 4 months in prison.

In this case, the three defendants allegedly cost the state Rp1.25 trillion. The defendants' corruption acts were carried out together with Adjie as the owner of the benefits of PT Jembatan Nusantara (JN).

Acts against the law were carried out by facilitating the implementation of operational cooperation (KSO) between PT ASDP and PT JN to enrich Adjie worth IDR 1.25 trillion.

The case began with a business cooperation scheme (KSU) between PT ASDP and PT JN in 2019 which changed in the process of acquiring shares of PT JN.

In order to facilitate the implementation of KSU cooperation with PT JN, the defendants allegedly issued two directors' decisions by adding provisions for exemption from requirements for KSU cooperation.

Then Ira, Yusuf, and Harry entered into a KSU agreement to operate the ship between PT ASDP and PT JN before the approval of the Board of Commissioners and did not consider the risk of implementing the KSU with PT JN which was prepared by Vice President of Risk Management and Quality Assurance.