TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said he had appointed Fuad Rizal to act as president director Garuda Indonesia for the time being, replacing I Gusti Ngurah Askhara Danadiputra or Ari Askhara. Fuad Rizal, the airline's finance and risk management director will be leading the company until a new CEO is officially elected.

"We have confirmed that the Acting Director is the Finance Director," Budi Karya said in Jakarta, Friday, December 6.

Losing Ari Askhara, Budi said, would not affect the flag carrier's operations and safety measures.

Yesterday, SOE Minister Erick Thohir fired Ari Askhara in connection with the alleged smuggling of Harley Davidson's spare parts via Garuda's new aircraft, the Airbus 330-900 Neo.

As Garuda is a public company, "there will be other processes," Erick said on Thursday.

Erick said the decision to fire Ari was based on suspicion that the smuggling process was carried out thoroughly by Garuda Indonesia.

In addition to dismissing Ari Askhara, Erick said he would thoroughly investigate the case, to see if "there were other people involved in this case," adding that the case is not only a civil case, but also a crime—one that incurred state losses ".

EKO WAHYUDI l CAESAR AKBAR