Career Path of Brigadier General Lalu Iwan Before MBG Case: Once Highly Decorated, Now a Suspect

The name of Police Brigadier General Lalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan has suddenly come under the spotlight after the Attorney General’s Office named him a suspect in an alleged corruption case concerning the governance of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. The legal status has attracted public attention because Lalu Iwan is a high-ranking officer of the Indonesian National Police who had only recently been promoted to the rank of brigadier general. Furthermore, he had a long track record within the police institution and was entrusted with a strategic position at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). Before becoming entangled in the alleged MBG corruption case, Lalu Iwan’s career path was considered quite illustrious. He served in various regions, was entrusted with handling several important positions, and even served as a Liaison Officer (LO) for the international sporting event, the 2018 Asian Games. Lalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan is a graduate of the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy (AKABRI) in 1994. The man born in West Nusa Tenggara on 22 January 1972 began his service in the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) with various assignments in the West Kalimantan region. His experience in this elite police unit became the foundation of his career before he later moved to several other police jurisdictions and was entrusted with various strategic positions. After serving in Brimob, Lalu Iwan continued his career at the Bengkulu Regional Police and the Metro Jaya Regional Police. In the capital, he was entrusted several times with leading sector police stations. Some of the positions he held included Chief of the Metro Jagakarsa Police, Chief of the Metro Kelapa Gading Police, Chief of the Metro Penjaringan Police, and Chief of the Metro Setiabudi Police. This experience made him known for having a long track record in the field of police operations. Lalu Iwan’s career then continued when he was entrusted with serving as the Dharmasraya Police Chief in the West Sumatra Regional Police. This position further strengthened his leadership experience before he undertook various assignments at the national level. In addition to serving as a Police Chief, he also served in the National Police’s Security Maintenance Agency (Baharkam), the Police Science College of the Police Education and Training Institute (STIK Lemdiklat Polri), and the Regional Inspectorate of the West Nusa Tenggara Regional Police.