Travel Agent Cheated Of Rp600 Million, Brought 65 Cars To Lombok To Support MotoGP But Didn't Even Pay Astindo NTB People

Mandalika Circuit (Photo via Twitter @MotoGP)

JAKARTA - One travel agent from Malang, East Java admitted that he had lost up to IDR 600 million due to being cheated on a rental agreement for 65 four-wheeled vehicles for the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia or MotoGP 2022 event.

Travel agent from CV Hafiz Jaya Tour Usma Hadi, in Mataram, Friday, March 18, said that the value of the loss came from an agreement with a man with the initials DD, a member of the Association of Indonesian Airline Ticket Selling Companies (Astindo) NTB.

"So initially, long before the Mandalika MotoGP event took place, our side was contacted by DD on behalf of Astindo NTB," said Usma, Friday, March 18, quoted from Antara.

At that time, DD ordered 65 vehicles including Pajero Sport, Fortuner, Innova Reborn, and HiAce brands. All units were ordered with reasons to support transportation in the MotoGP event.

According to the agreement, DD promised to pay a down payment of half the rental value of 65 four-wheeled vehicles after all units arrived in Lombok.

"So we came in a group from Malang. But after arriving here, the promised down payment did not exist until now. We have been here for three days," he also said.

As a result, dozens of vehicles from Malang are now idle in the yard of the NTB Province Transportation Service Office (Dishub).

Therefore, Usma and his party from the travel agent plan to take legal action by reporting this matter to the police.

"Later on, we also want to make a demonstration permit to the NTB Governor's Office so that there will be attention, we are adrift here," he said.

Secretary General of Astindo NTB Abdul Haris who was confirmed in his office confirmed the incident.

However, Haris emphasized that this booking was not on behalf of Astindo NTB, but personally by its member DD who became a travel agent in Lombok. This order was also made by DD without the knowledge of himself or the chairman.

"So this transaction system without any notification to us, and not on behalf of the association, but on behalf of each of them personally, so there is no involving us," said Haris.

He also ensured that as a result of this problem, Astindo NTB members would also bear the burden of paying the advance payment. Regarding the reason for the members not fulfilling this agreement, Haris admitted that he had not received further news from DD.