AGO Names New Suspect in Alleged MBG Governance Corruption Case
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has named a new suspect in the alleged corruption case concerning the governance of the free nutritious meals (MBG) programme. The new suspect is Asep Yusuf Somantri, known as AYS, a private sector actor.
“So, to all media colleagues, last Saturday, 6 June 2026, the investigative team named one more person as a suspect, AYS, a private party,” said Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of Investigation at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, at the Kejagung office in South Jakarta on Thursday.
He stated that the suspect Asep is a private party enlisted by Sony. Asep allegedly sought partners for the implementation of the MBG programme. “With the case position roughly as follows: AYS is a private party requested by suspect SS (Sony Sonjaya) in his capacity as Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to find partners for the implementation of the free nutritious meals programme,” he said.
Syarief stated that Sony allegedly gave access to AYS to intervene with the MBG partner verification team. Consequently, Sony knew of vacant kitchen locations and cancelled the status of prospective SPPG (Meal Service Fulfilment Units) that had initially been approved on the MBG partner portal. “That Mr SS unlawfully gave access to AYS to intervene with the MBG partner verification team, so he could identify vacant kitchen locations and manipulate prospective SPPG applicants registered on the MBG partner portal, causing their initially approved registration status to be cancelled,” he said.
He added that AYS allegedly facilitated SPPG applicants who registered on the portal after it had closed. AYS is also alleged to have given a sum of money to Sony. “Mr AYS facilitated newly registering SPPG on a portal that was already closed. After arranging these SPPG locations, Mr AYS unlawfully gave a sum of money to suspect SS,” he stated.
For his actions, AYS is suspected of violating Article 12 letter a or letter b of the Corruption Eradication Law and Article 605 paragraph 2, Article 606 of the Criminal Code. AYS is currently being detained for the next 20 days at the Salemba Detention Centre branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office.
Previously, the Kejagung had named three individuals as suspects in the alleged MBG governance corruption case. They are: 1. Former BGN Head Dadan Hindayana; 2. Former BGN Deputy Head Sony Sonjaya; and 3. Former BGN Deputy Head Lodewyk Pusung. The Kejagung suspects irregularities in the MBG programme’s governance, including alleged affiliations between the suspects and foundations managing SPPG, as well as suspected mark-ups in the procurement of electric motorcycles, shoes, tablets, and televisions.