MBG corruption case: AGO names fourth suspect

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Attorney General’s Office has named a fourth suspect in the alleged corruption case concerning the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for the 2025–2026 period. “On Saturday (6/6), the investigative team named one more individual as a suspect, identified as AYS, from the private sector,” said Director of Investigation at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, at the Attorney General’s Office Round Building on Thursday. AYS refers to Asep Yusuf Somantri, a trusted associate of Sony Sonjaya, the former Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) who was previously named a suspect. Syarief explained that the case against suspect AYS, a private sector actor, involved being asked by suspect Sony Sonjaya to find partners for the implementation of the MBG programme. He stated that Sony Sonjaya allegedly gave AYS access to intervene with the MBG partner verification team in order to identify vacant kitchen points and manipulate the registration process for prospective Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), resulting in the cancellation of several previously approved registrations. “And Mr AYS facilitated SPPG registrations even though the registration portal had already been closed,” Syarief said. After arranging these SPPG points, Syarief continued, suspect AYS unlawfully gave a sum of money to suspect Sony Sonjaya. Syarief did not specify the amount of money AYS gave to Sony Sonjaya. He confirmed that four individuals have now been named as suspects. The three previous suspects are former BGN Head Dadan Hindayana and two former BGN Deputy Heads, Lodewyk Pusung and Sony Sonjaya. In this case, AYS is suspected of violating Article 12 letters a and b of the Corruption Crime Law and 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 Prosecutor’s Office branch,” said Syarief.