After Harley And Brompton Bodong, Erick Thohir Threatens To Remove Garuda Directors

BUMN Minister Erick Thohir (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir has asked the directors or officials of PT Garuda Indonesia to take responsibility for the discovery of illegal cargoes in the form of Harley Davidson motorbike spare parts and Brompton bikes on the Garuda plane.

According to him, the awareness of resigning from office is better than him who did removal. "Before being removed, it is better to resign if you feel that it is wrong," Erick told reporters at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Thursday, December 5.

He asked the unnamed official to take responsibility for his actions by resigning and not sacrificing others for his mistakes.

"A leader must have a clear position. If one is wrong, he sacrifices someone else," said Erick.

The former INASGOC chairman said that if he does not resign in the near future, then it is not impossible that he will remove the official. It's just that the removal must be in accordance with the process and existing evidence.

Reflecting on this case, Erick also emphasized that he had asked the board of directors of Garuda Indonesia to make improvements to the internal system of the state-owned company.

Photo of a Harley Davidson Sparpart and a bulging Bromton Bike (Special Doc)

The former media entrepreneur said that it had been several weeks before the case was revealed that he and the Garuda Indonesia board of directors had discussed this.

"I have met many directors because changing the business model is important. Moreover, there is an open competition sign like today. The response is good but with this case it is sad," he said.

This scandal over fake spare parts was uncovered by Customs and Excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, while conducting an inspection of the plane that had just landed from France and immediately entered the Hangar 4 Garuda Indonesia Maintanance Facility on 17 November.

During the inspection, customs and excise officers found 18 boxes labeled with passenger luggage. This box was also not reported on flight GA9721, which was known to carry 22 VIP passengers and 10 cabin crew.

After being unloaded, the 18 boxes in the passenger trunk turned out to be containing large Harley Davidson motorbike spare parts, two packages containing Brompton bikes, and spare parts for the plane.