Ethics Council: Hery Susanto Directed Free Nutritious Meal Programme Not to be 'Touched'
The Ethics Council of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI) has disclosed that the inactive Chairman of the Ombudsman, Hery Susanto, had previously directed his subordinates not to ‘touch’ the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme.
The Chairman of the Ombudsman’s Ethics Council, Jimly Asshodeeqie, expressed regret over this directive, noting that although the MBG is a vital national programme, it must remain subject to oversight by the ORI. “This is unacceptable. The evidence shows that the leadership of the MBG programme has now been arrested as suspects, which means there are issues in governance,” Jimly stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasised that moving forward, the ORI must not refrain from its supervisory duties simply because a programme is a flagship government initiative. Jimly explained that Hery’s instructions were disclosed by several Ombudsman staff members during investigations. He stressed that as an independent public service oversight body, the ORI must monitor all government programmes, including national priorities. While acknowledging that the MBG is a noble and well-intentioned programme, he insisted that its implementation must be scrutinised to prevent mismanagement.
“This is a symptom of our feudal bureaucratic work culture. Because there is a national programme that the President is very enthusiastic about, people suddenly become afraid to speak up or dare to supervise. This cannot be allowed,” he added.
The Ethics Council has imposed the sanction of Dishonorable Discharge (PTDH) on Hery, after he was found guilty of serious violations of the Ombudsman’s code of ethics and conduct. These violations included bias, intentionality, repeated misconduct, and actions that had a negative impact on the institution, the state, and the public.
These disciplinary actions are linked to Hery Susanto’s designation as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving nickel mining business governance between 2013 and 2025. The Director of Investigation at the Attorney General’s Office’s Special Crimes Division, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that Hery allegedly committed these crimes while serving as a member of the Ombudsman for the 2021-2026 period.
In this case, Hery is suspected of receiving bribes amounting to IDR 1.5 billion from PT TSHI. The issue reportedly began when PT TSHI faced problems regarding the calculation of non-tax state revenue (PNBP) by the Ministry of Forestry. PT TSHI allegedly sought a resolution through a collusive arrangement with Hery Susanto in his capacity as an Ombudsman Commissioner, receiving funds from the company’s director to facilitate the scheme.