Former Head of National Nutrition Agency Named Suspect in Free Nutritious Meal Programme Corruption Case

The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has revealed the modus operandi behind alleged corruption in the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The former Head of the BGN, Dadan Hindayana, along with two deputies, Lodewyk Pusung and Sony Sonjaya, are suspected of unlawfully appointing foundations affiliated with them as partners for the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).

The Director of Investigation at Jampidsus, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, explained that the three individuals were named suspects after strong evidence emerged regarding the manipulation of the verification process on the BGN partner portal. This national priority programme has received massive budget allocations from the State Budget (APBN), amounting to IDR 85.27 trillion in 2025 and projected to surge to IDR 268 trillion in 2026.

‘The SPPG units were appointed by manipulating the verification process on the BGN partner portal under the direction of the suspects,’ stated Syarief, as reported by Antara, Jakarta, on Wednesday (3/6).

Syarief further detailed that while the MBG programme should have been managed transparently by foundations in every school, the suspects allegedly used their own or affiliated foundations as vehicles for crime. These unqualified foundations reportedly received incentives amounting to billions of rupiah per day, or trillions of rupiah per year.

In addition to the manipulation of SPPG partners, the three suspects are also alleged to have committed legal violations during the procurement of goods and services within the BGN. Consequently, the state faces potential significant losses from funds that were intended for the nutritional needs of the public.

The suspects are currently charged with violating Article 603 in conjunction with Article 20 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code, as well as Article 18 of the Law on the Eradication of Corruption Crimes. For investigation purposes, Dadan Hindayana, Sony Sonjaya, and Lodewyk Pusung will undergo detention for the next 20 days at the Salemba Detention Centre under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office and the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office.