Criminal Catch Threatens Former Garuda Managing Director Ari Askhara

Garuda Indonesia aircraft (Syamsul Ma'arif / VOI)

JAKARTA - The smuggling case of Harley-Davidson and Brompton bicycles involving I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra or Ari Askhara is currently not resolved. Askhara has been dismissed from his post. Meanwhile, the smuggling case is still being handled by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance.

In the meantime, this case is suspected of violating the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 76 of 2019 concerning Provisions for Import of Capital Goods in a Not New Condition (BMTB). Because, the motorbike is not a new motorbike, aka used.

Deni Surjantoro, Head of the Communications and Publication Sub-Directorate for Customs and Excise, said that this case was in their handling. Ari's status is still unclear and is not yet a suspect.

"I can't convey the substance because the research process is still ongoing," said Deni, Friday, December 6.

Deni added, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise opens the opportunity if there are other criminal loopholes for prosecuting this case. Because, based on Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning customs, Article 102 states that every person who transports imported goods that are not listed in the manifest can be subject to criminal charges for smuggling in the import sector. The punishment is in the form of imprisonment for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 10 years.

"Until now, we are still doing it ourselves," said Deni.

Meanwhile, the Police, who are contacted separately, will coordinate with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance to investigate violations of the law in this case. However, for the time being, the police have left it to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance to handle this.

"That is still being handled by the Customs and Excise enforcement unit, it was just yesterday. Later we will try to coordinate there," said Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Yusri Yunus.

Previously, the scandal over the smuggling of a Harley Davidson motorbike and two Brompton bikes was in the public spotlight. Apart from being carried out by the President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia Ari Askhara, the smuggling was carried out using the new aircraft unit belonging to the red plate airline.

The Airbus A300-900 Neo aircraft flown from its factory in France to Indonesia did not only carry passengers, but also carried a white and red Harley Davidson. The price of this motorbike reaches Rp. 800 million. As for the folding Brompton bike, the price is around IDR 50 million per unit.

As a result of Ari's actions to smuggle motorbikes and two units of bicycles, the state was also said to have lost up to IDR 1.5 billion. "The total state loss, potential or if there is no declaration, is between Rp. 532 million to Rp. 1.5 billion," said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.