Two weeks ago, I landed in Melbourne on Garuda Indonesia flight GA716. It didn’t take long before I realized something was wrong. My iPhone hadn’t been misplaced. It hadn’t been left behind. It was stolen.

📍 The Facts

After leaving the aircraft, I immediately noticed my iPhone was missing. I opened Find My iPhone — and the GPS signal didn’t lead to the airport’s lost property counter.

Instead, it pointed to a hotel in Southbank. That same hotel was later confirmed to be where the Garuda crew was checked in.

Not long after, the signal went offline. The phone wasn’t returned. The location wasn’t reported. No one from the airline reached out.

This wasn’t forgetfulness.
This was theft.

💭 Why I’m Sharing This

Because facts matter. Because silence, when paired with suspicion, does damage. And because I believe in speaking up — not to inflame, but to inform.

This is no longer just about an iPhone. It’s about how institutions respond when integrity is tested. It’s about accountability in the travel industry. It’s about ensuring passengers are respected, not dismissed.

🔎 What This Experience Has Reinforced

1. This was not a lost item.

I didn’t forget my phone. I tracked it. I followed it. I documented it. And I stand by what the evidence shows: it was stolen during or immediately after the flight.

2. Silence from powerful institutions is not neutrality — it’s complicity.

When nothing is said, narratives are shaped by omission.

3. Public trust depends on how we respond when things go wrong.

Not just how we operate when everything is smooth — but how we act when something serious, like a theft, occurs on a commercial flight.

👨‍👧‍👦 I’m a Father and a Founder — And I Won’t Stay Silent

I didn’t choose for this story to go public. But once the signal led to where it did, and once no one responded transparently, I knew this could not stay private.

As the founder of Purityfic, a halal-certified wellness brand, I’ve built my business on one word: trust.

As a father of four, I believe in modeling what it looks like to stand calmly, clearly, and firmly for what’s right — especially when it’s hard.

⚖️ The Journey Continues

I’ve submitted a police report, notified relevant authorities, and documented every step. I’ve cooperated with Victoria Police, requested CCTV footage, and informed Garuda through every official channel.

I’ve also stayed calm — even as misinformation spreads and silence tries to shape the story.

But I won’t let the facts be lost. And I won’t let the theft of a phone turn into the theft of a narrative.

“The pursuit of justice isn’t a distraction from life. It’s a reflection of how we choose to live.”

Michael Tjendara
Founder of Purityfic | Advocate for Consumer Rights | Father of Four
Truth over silence. Always.