Government Respects Legal Process for Former Deputy Head of National Nutrition Agency Seeking Justice Collaborator Status

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Government Communications Body (Bakom) Muhammad Qodari has stated that the government respects the legal process in the alleged corruption case involving former officials of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), including the application for justice collaborator status by former BGN Deputy Head Sony Sanjaya. “We shall simply follow the legal process as it proceeds properly. As of today, the ball is in the Attorney General’s Office’s court. Whether the justice collaborator application is accepted or not naturally depends on fulfilling the requirements,” said Bakom Chief Qodari in response to reporters’ questions following a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. He highlighted that the alleged corruption case within the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is broadly divided into two categories: discrepancies in prices for the procurement of various goods, and the buying and selling of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) locations. Regarding the names submitted by Sony, who previously served as Deputy Head of the BGN, it remains unclear which category they fall into and this must be confirmed by the Attorney General’s Office. “Even if certain names are mentioned, it ultimately comes back to the legal process—whether, for example, the buying and selling of SPPG points genuinely occurred. That of course depends on the legal process,” stated Qodari. He also remarked that the legal process would continue regardless of whether executive, legislative, or judicial officials are named by Sony in his application to become a justice collaborator. According to Qodari, his client wishes to become a justice collaborator in order to reveal the true parties involved, while also emphasising that he was not the mastermind behind the criminal act. He conveyed that his client has already provided more than 20 names allegedly involved in the corruption of MBG governance to investigators at the Attorney General’s Office, as recorded in the official investigation report.