Ex-Leaders of Indonesian Nutrition Agency Arrested for Corruption

The Indonesian Attorney General's Office has named three former leaders of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) as suspects in a corruption case involving the "Makan Bergizi Gratis" (MBG) program. The arrests followed a period of confusion, with initial reports of a sting operation being widely dismissed as hoaxes.

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DH, SS, and LP based on two sufficient pieces of evidence obtained by investigators have been designated as suspects.

Director of Investigations for Special Crimes at the Attorney General's Office, Syarief Sulaiman Nahdi, announced on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, that Dadan Hindayana, the former head of BGN, along with former deputies Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, were designated suspects based on sufficient evidence. All three have been detained following their examinations. This development occurred just days after social media buzzed with rumors of a sting operation targeting BGN leadership, which the Attorney General's Office, through Head of Legal Information Media Relations Try Sutrisno, had publicly denied.

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That is not true.

Sony Sonjaya himself had initially refuted the arrest rumors, stating he was still working normally and had even reported alleged dealings related to the procurement of nutrition program points to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri). However, the case rapidly escalated. On Tuesday night, June 2, 2026, President Prabowo Subianto removed Dadan Hindayana from his post, and the government subsequently dismissed Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung. Hours after their dismissals, investigators from the Attorney General's Office raided the BGN office in Central Jakarta, carrying out searches and seizing documents.

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I was never arrested. I am still working as usual.

Investigators suspect the three individuals manipulated the management of the "Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi" (SPPG), or MBG kitchens, through third parties to gain illicit profits. "These foundations can be considered owned through others, owned by using other people, or controlled by the perpetrators," Syarief explained. Beyond the alleged manipulation of foundations, investigators also uncovered suspected overpricing in several procurement projects. These included the acquisition of 21,801 electric motorcycles valued at approximately 1 trillion rupiah, along with purchases of 32,000 pairs of shoes, 31,994 tablets, and 5,400 75-inch televisions. The suspects allegedly intervened with the officials responsible for committing to these projects.

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These foundations can be considered owned through others, owned by using other people, or controlled by the perpetrators.