Profile of Lalu Iwan, MBG Corruption Suspect Who Served in NTB Police

Brigadier General Lalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan has come under scrutiny after being named a new suspect in the alleged corruption case surrounding the management of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) project at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). The Secretary of the Deputy for Promotion and Cooperation at BGN previously served with the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional Police. Iwan is the seventh suspect named by the Attorney General’s Office. He is suspected of involvement in the procurement project for food trays, known as ompreng, for the MBG programme. According to records, Iwan once served as Acting Head of Public Relations. Before his placement at BGN, he served as a Middle-Level Police Auditor at the NTB Regional Police Inspectorate. Iwan was then transferred as a middle-ranking officer of the General Supervision Inspectorate for assignment to the National Nutrition Agency. The transfer was based on a telegram signed by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo on 24 June 2025. Iwan is a graduate of the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy class of 1994. Born in Selong, East Lombok, NTB, on 20 January 1972, he also served in the Brimob Corps in East Kalimantan. Additionally, Iwan served in the Bengkulu Regional Police and the Metro Jaya Regional Police. Several strategic positions he has held include Chief of the Jagakarsa Metro Police, Chief of the Kelapa Gading Metro Police, Chief of the Penjaringan Metro Police, Chief of the Setiabudi Metro Police, and Chief of the Dharmasraya Police in West Sumatra. Iwan is also known to have served in the National Police Security Maintenance Agency and the Police Education and Training Institute. He is now a suspect and is being detained by the Attorney General’s Office at the Salemba Detention Centre branch of the South Jakarta District Prosecutor’s Office. The Director of Investigation at the Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, stated that in 2025, Iwan allegedly instructed witnesses with the initials YCS and RD to establish a company. The company was specifically formed to sell food tray equipment to prospective partners of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit. Syarief explained that the price of the food trays was unilaterally determined by Iwan, and included a portion allocated as profit for him to ensure the sale was approved. The total amount of money received by Iwan from the sale of the trays and the overall state losses incurred have not yet been disclosed. Following his designation as a suspect, investigators immediately detained Iwan. He is charged under Article 12 letters a, b, or e of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with the Criminal Code, as well as Law Number 1 of 2023. Iwan’s arrest adds to the list of suspects in the corruption scandal at the National Nutrition Agency, bringing the total to seven individuals.