On June 6, 2025, I flew from Jakarta to Melbourne on Garuda Indonesia flight GA716.
Sitting beside me was my five-year-old daughter, peacefully asleep.
That was the moment someone chose to steal my iPhone from the seat pocket next to her.
They did not steal from me while I was watching.
They waited until I was tired caring for my family. Until I let my guard down.
And they reached across the boundary of safety that should exist when a child is present.
This was not just theft. It was a betrayal of basic human decency.
If you wanted to steal, you should have stolen from me directly.
Not beside a sleeping child.
Not from the weak.
Because real strength does not hide in silence or shadows. It does not take advantage of the vulnerable.
Why I Am Still Speaking Up
The case is still under active investigation by Victoria Police in Australia.
Evidence from Find My iPhone showed my device traveling from the plane to the hotel where the Garuda crew stayed, then to the Yarra River, where the signal was lost.
Despite this, Garuda Indonesia recently announced they had cleared all 20 crew members through an internal process and returned them to duty.
The police investigation has not concluded. Yet the airline has.
This moment raises important questions about accountability, integrity, and how much a passenger’s voice really matters.
This Is About More Than a Phone
As the founder of Purityfic, a health and wellness brand built on halal principles, I have always believed in trust, transparency, and truth. These values are not just marketing slogans. They are how I live, how I lead, and how I raise my children.
This experience has challenged me to live those values out loud, even when it would be easier to stay quiet.
I will not let fear or pressure silence me.
Because when something happens in front of your child and you choose silence, that silence teaches them that truth does not matter. I want to teach my children the opposite.
If You Have Ever Felt Powerless, This Is for You
If you have ever been ignored after something was stolen
If you have ever been told your story does not matter
If you have ever been silenced for speaking up
Then this message is for you.
You are not alone.
Your truth matters.
And you deserve to be treated with dignity, no matter who or what you are standing against.
What Comes Next
I will continue to speak with the police, pursue the evidence, and advocate for accountability.
I will also continue to build Purityfic with the same commitment I had before — only now, with deeper conviction.
Because health is not just about what you put in your body. It is about how you stand up for what is right. It is about how you protect others. Especially the vulnerable.
To the person who took my phone beside my daughter, I say this again.
You should have stolen from me.
Michael Tjendara
Founder of Purityfic
Father. Advocate. Entrepreneur.
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