There Was A Reason Why Ari Askhara Had To Be Arrested

Harley Davidson smuggling press conference (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

JAKARTA - Garuda Indonesia has stumbled again in a scandal. I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra alias Ari Askhara was fired from the position of managing director of the company because he was caught smuggling Harley Davidson motorbike components and Brompton bikes. Various parties asked Ari to be arrested.

Chairman of the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) Presidium, Neta S Pane, asked the police to thoroughly investigate the alleged smuggling of Harley Davidson motorbike components which allegedly involved the former President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra.

"So far, air smuggling has only been an issue and is very difficult to touch," said Neta, in a written statement, Friday, December 7.

According to him, the police must seriously investigate the case, including whether this smuggling is the first time or has been done repeatedly. Moreover, he said, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani had said that the potential state losses due to smuggling could reach Rp1.5 billion.

Neta urged Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya to move quickly to immediately arrest and arrest the figure who is familiarly called Ari Askhara, and all parties involved in the smuggling action. So far, said Neta, the National Police, in this regard, the Directorate of Criminal and Criminal Investigation of Polda Metro Jaya has been very aggressive in pursuing and arresting the perpetrators of smuggling used clothes from abroad.

Harley Davidson component findings press conference (Wardhany Tsa Tsia / VOI)

He gave an example of the arrest of six suspects smuggling used clothes from China in three different places, namely in the ports of Marunda, Senen and Ancol, 12 September 2019 by Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya. "The suspects were arrested and immediately detained because they caused billions of rupiah in losses to the state," he said.

Therefore, IPW asked Polda Metro Jaya not to selectively handle cases, especially those involving state officials. If the police are successful in resolving the smuggling case that is suspected of involving the former President Director of Garuda, said two, the public will certainly appreciate Polri.

Previously, BUMN Minister Erick Thohir dismissed Garuda Indonesia President Director Ari Askhara regarding the Brompton bicycle case and Harley motorbike components found in the new Garuda Airbus A330-900 aircraft by Customs some time ago.

PT Garuda Indonesia Finance Director Fuad Rizal was appointed Acting (Plt) President Director of Garuda Indonesia temporarily replacing Ari Askhara.