ASABRI Managing Director Denies Corruption Exists

Illustration. (Photo: ASABRI)

JAKARTA - President Director of PT ASABRI SOnny Widjaja stated his rebuttal regarding allegations of internal corruption in his company. According to him, the company's condition, in this case the process of receiving premiums and paying claims, is still running normally as usual.

He emphasized that there is no problem with the company's internal conditions. The news about ASABRI that was widely circulated in various media, according to him, did not correspond to the actual situation.

"ASABRI's operational activities are running normally and well. ASABRI can fulfill all claim submissions on time, "said Sonny in a statement received, Tuesday, January 14.

Regarding the performance of ASABRI's stock portfolio in the falling stock market, Sonny admitted that there were several declines in investment value. However, according to him, this was not related to ASABRI's performance, but the condition of the Indonesian capital market, which was indeed not good.

"The decline in investment value is only temporary. ASABRI management has mitigation to recover this decline. In making investment placements, ASABRI always prioritizes the interests of the company in accordance with the conditions at hand, "he explained.

For information, there are at least 12 issuers in ASABRI's stock portfolio. The majority of these shares experienced a significant decline from the close of trading 2017 to the close of trading 2019.

When viewed from its portfolio, the average stock bought by the company are stocks which are commonly called small-cap stocks or stocks with small capitalization but the price volatility is very high.

Sonny added, in carrying out business activities, ASABRI always applies the principles of good corporate governance and complies with laws and regulations. "ASABRI management continues to strive and work as hard as possible in order to provide the best performance to all ASABRI participants and stakeholders," he added.

Previously, ASABRI was suspected of committing corruption with a value of up to Rp10 trillion. This allegation was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD.

Mahfud even suspects that corruption within the state-owned insurance company that manages the TNI, Polri and ASN at the Ministry of Defense has the same modus operandi as the case that occurred within PT Asuransi Jiwasraya.

To ensure a similarity between the two cases, Mahfud said, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) was conducting validation. "Yes, the modus operandi is the same (with PT Jiwasraya). There will probably be some of the same people. But later, the important thing will be dismantled because it hurts all of our hearts," Mahfud told reporters at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jakarta. Center, Monday, January 13.

The former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) explained, if the results of the validation from the BPK have been completed, the next step is to determine the legal route, such as where to take and who has taken the action.

"Later we will be proportional if the case already exists (clearly)," he said.

Apart from waiting for the results of the validation from BPK, in the near future, Mahfud will also summon State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir. He said, this summons could not be carried out at this time considering that Erick was abroad carrying out his duties.

"This week, we are still abroad, Mr. Erick and so on, so we will summon and then we will proceed," said Mahfud, adding that this case must be investigated as requested by President Joko Widodo.