MBG corruption case: AGO names fourth suspect

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Attorney General’s Office has named the fourth suspect in the alleged corruption case concerning the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the 2025–2026 period.

“On Saturday (6/6), the investigative team named another suspect, AYS, from the private sector,” stated the Director of Investigation of the Attorney General’s Office for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, at the Attorney General’s Office Circular Building on Thursday.

AYS refers to Asep Yusuf Somantri, a trusted associate of Sony Sonjaya, the former Deputy Chairman of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), who had previously been named a suspect.

Syarief explained that AYS, acting as a private individual, was requested by suspect Sony Sonjaya to find partners for the implementation of the MBG programme.

He noted that Sony Sonjaya allegedly provided AYS with access to intervene with the MBG partner verification team to identify vacant kitchen locations and manipulate the registration process for prospective Food Service Provider Units (SPPG), resulting in several approved registrations being subsequently cancelled.

“Furthermore, Mr AYS facilitated SPPG registrations even after the registration portal had closed,” said Syarief.

After arranging these SPPG locations, Syarief continued, the suspect AYS unlawfully provided a sum of money to the suspect Sony Sonjaya.

Syarief did not specify the exact amount of money provided by AYS to Sony Sonjaya.

He emphasised that four individuals have now been named as suspects. The three previous suspects include the former Head of the BGN, Dadan Hindayana, and two former Deputy Heads of the BGN, Lodewyk Pusung and Sony Sonjaya.

In this case, AYS is suspected of violating Article 12, letters a and b of the Anti-Corruption Law, as well as Article 605, paragraph (2) and Article 606 of the Criminal Code.

“The suspect is currently being detained for the next 20 days at the Salemba Detention Centre, South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office branch,” said Syarief.