Photo: Instagram / rius.vernandes
A popular travel vlogger and reviewer from Indonesia is facing up to 4 years in prison after the national airline company Garuda Indonesia sued him for defamation. The lawsuit is over a silly photo he posted to his Instagram.
The photo showed a handwritten note containing the menu for Business Class, which Rius Vernandes was handed on a recent flight. It’s no longer available on his IG, most probably because of the pending litigation, but you can see it attached to this article.
Obviously, Vernandes was amused by the note and he posted it with the caption, “The menu is still being printed, sir.” The post, though funny, prompted intense mockery of Garuda and its services, hence the basis for the defamation lawsuit.
Initially, Garuda apologized to Vernandes about the note and said that no passenger should have been handed it. It was merely a note for the cabin crew, because fliers would get printed menus, of course. Then, Garuda instructed flight attendants to ban passengers from taking any kind of photos during flights, the Straits Times reports.
It backed down on the decision soon afterwards, saying that passengers would only be allowed to take selfies, on the condition it didn’t violate other people’s privacy or inconvenience them in any way.
Then, Garuda filed a report with the police against Vernandes and sued him for defamation. Vernandes says as much on his Instagram, where he’s also asking for his followers’ help.
“We’ve been reported for defamation. I’m sure you know I had no intention whatsoever to defame anyone,” he says. “I hope you can support me because I don’t want anyone to be prosecuted for an honest review and constructive criticism.”
In Indonesia, posting content that leads to defamation is a crime and is punishable by up to 4 years behind bars. It seems excessive for a funny post, but it’s the law.
Garuda was no available for comment on the lawsuit, but police have confirmed it’s been filed.
Obviously, Vernandes was amused by the note and he posted it with the caption, “The menu is still being printed, sir.” The post, though funny, prompted intense mockery of Garuda and its services, hence the basis for the defamation lawsuit.
Initially, Garuda apologized to Vernandes about the note and said that no passenger should have been handed it. It was merely a note for the cabin crew, because fliers would get printed menus, of course. Then, Garuda instructed flight attendants to ban passengers from taking any kind of photos during flights, the Straits Times reports.
It backed down on the decision soon afterwards, saying that passengers would only be allowed to take selfies, on the condition it didn’t violate other people’s privacy or inconvenience them in any way.
Then, Garuda filed a report with the police against Vernandes and sued him for defamation. Vernandes says as much on his Instagram, where he’s also asking for his followers’ help.
“We’ve been reported for defamation. I’m sure you know I had no intention whatsoever to defame anyone,” he says. “I hope you can support me because I don’t want anyone to be prosecuted for an honest review and constructive criticism.”
In Indonesia, posting content that leads to defamation is a crime and is punishable by up to 4 years behind bars. It seems excessive for a funny post, but it’s the law.
Garuda was no available for comment on the lawsuit, but police have confirmed it’s been filed.
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