Indonesian Military Responds After Colonel Budi Utomo Named Suspect in Free Nutritious Meal Corruption Case
The TNI Headquarters has spoken out regarding the involvement of an Indonesian Army member, Colonel Cpl Budi Utomo, who has been named a suspect in a corruption case involving the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme for the 2025-2026 period.
The Head of the TNI Public Relations Centre, Major General Muhammad Nas, stated that the military fully respects the legal steps taken by the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung). He ensured that the TNI will guarantee independence in this legal matter.
“The TNI respects the applicable mechanisms and processes, and guarantees legal independence,” he said when confirmed via text message on Wednesday (30/9).
However, Nas did not further explain the current status of Colonel Cpl Budi Utomo.
Previously, the Attorney General’s Office named the former Secretary of the Deputy for Provision and Distribution at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Colonel Cpl Budi Utomo, as a suspect in the corruption case concerning the management of the MBG programme for the 2025-2026 period.
The Head of the Attorney General’s Office Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, stated that the designation of the suspect was carried out through a connectivity process by investigators from the Junior Attorney General for Military Crimes.
Anang mentioned that the designation of the Army member as a suspect has been in effect since August 2026. He noted that the perpetrator is currently being detained at the Pomdam Jaya detention centre.
“The individual in question has been named a suspect and has been detained,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday (2nd Sept).
In this case, the Attorney General’s Office stated that Budi, acting as the Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for goods and services procurement, was involved in the procurement of electric motorcycles.
The procurement of the electric motorcycle project was conducted alongside Lodewyk Pusung (LP), who at the time served as the Deputy Head of the BGN, and Andri Mulyono (AM), a Commissioner of PT Yasa Artha Trimanunggal (PT YAT).
The procurement of electric motorcycles, valued at Rp1 trillion, is alleged to have been carried out unlawfully because it failed to meet contract requirements and involved price mark-ups.
During the implementation of the electric motorcycle procurement, allegations of manipulation regarding the official handover documents were also discovered.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that in its realisation, only 3,229 units out of 21,081 vehicles have been received; however, 100 per cent of the payment has already been processed, resulting in state losses.