The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has returned funds amounting to\nRp311.24 billion to the state treasury after discovering hundreds of\nNutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), or kitchens for the Free\nNutritious Meal (MBG) programme, that showed signs of serious\nirregularities. The findings resulted from a comprehensive evaluation of\nthe virtual accounts (VA) used in the programme\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n
BGN Head Sudaryono stated that inspections were conducted on all SPPG\nvirtual accounts since he assumed leadership of the agency. The\ninvestigation revealed 414 SPPGs with various issues, ranging from the\nuse of duplicate accounts to accounts that had received fund\ndisbursements despite the kitchens being non-operational or entirely\nnon-existent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have found 414 SPPGs (or kitchens) where the accounts were either\ndoubled, or the kitchens did not exist, or the kitchens were not yet\noperational. Consequently, we have returned state and public funds\namounting to Rp311,246,295,184,\u201d Sudaryono said during a press\nconference at the BGN Office in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
The BGN noted that the largest portion of the returned funds came\nfrom virtual accounts using Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), amounting to\nRp137.5 billion from 121 SPPGs. This was followed by Bank Negara\nIndonesia (BNI) with Rp74 billion from 117 SPPGs. Meanwhile, Bank\nMandiri accounts contributed Rp71.6 billion from 129 SPPGs, Bank Syariah\nIndonesia (BSI) returned Rp12.9 billion from 19 SPPGs, and Bank Tabungan\nNegara (BTN) returned Rp15.3 billion from 28 SPPGs.<\/p>\n
In addition to returning the funds to the state treasury, the BGN has\nreferred these findings to law enforcement agencies for further\ninvestigation. According to Sudaryono, an inquiry is necessary to\ndetermine whether there was any element of intent or malicious intent in\nthe disbursement of these funds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have also reported this to law enforcement to see if there are\nindications of mens rea\u2014for instance, whether there was an intent to\nsteal or commit corruption. We are leaving it to the prosecutors to\nexamine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sudaryont also revealed suspicions regarding the involvement of\ncertain individuals within the previous BGN administration concerning\nthe disbursement of funds to the problematic SPPG virtual accounts.\nHowever, he emphasised that these allegations require further\ninvestigation and that proof remains the authority of law\nenforcement.<\/p>\n
He added that two possible motives are currently being investigated:\nfirst, an alleged attempt to unlawfully seize state funds; and second,\nthe possibility that the disbursements were made to artificially inflate\nbudget absorption rates. \u201cWe are investigating this, and if there are\nindications of mens rea or malicious intent to steal, we will hand this\nover to law enforcement,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/414-free-nutritious-meal-kitchens-found-in-serious-violations-referred-to-law-enforcement-1785491803", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }