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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesia names sixth suspect in multi-trillion rupiah nutrition program corruption case

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Indonesia's Attorney General's Office has named Glory Harimas Sihombing as the sixth suspect in a corruption case involving the government's "Free Nutritious Meal" (MBG) program.
  • Sihombing, head of the Indonesia Food Security Review foundation, allegedly facilitated access to program details and sold kitchen points to third parties.
  • Investigators stated Sihombing received funds from Dadan Hindayana, former head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), for this facilitation, with payments occurring regularly since 2025.

The Attorney General's Office (Kejagung) in Indonesia has identified Glory Harimas Sihombing as the sixth suspect in a multi-trillion rupiah corruption investigation linked to the government's "Free Nutritious Meal" (MBG) program. Sihombing, who leads the Indonesia Food Security Review foundation, is accused of playing a key role in the alleged corruption scheme.

Mr. GHS is a private party who was asked by suspect DH, as the head of BGN, to find partners for the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program.

— Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of InvestigationExplaining Glory Sihombing's initial role in the program.

According to the Directorate of Investigation for Special Crimes, Sihombing's involvement is connected to Dadan Hindayana, the former head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), the sole government body responsible for the MBG program. Investigators allege that Hindayana granted Sihombing access to information about the locations of Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs), which are responsible for preparing and distributing the meals.

However, after Mr. GHS's foundation had the kitchen points, the foundation sold its SPPG kitchens to parties who wished to establish MBG kitchens in the areas of the kitchen points for MBG.

— Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of InvestigationDescribing the alleged illegal sale of operational points.

Evidence suggests that Sihombing then proceeded to sell these SPPG kitchen points to interested parties. The official regulations stipulated that the establishment of SPPGs should originate from foundations within the beneficiary schools. However, Sihombing's foundation allegedly sold these operational points to external entities.

Mr. GHS unlawfully gave a sum of money, both foreign currency and Rupiah, to suspect DH, which was given in cash sourced from MBG partners who asked for assistance from Mr. GHS and Mr. DH to become MBG partners.

— Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of InvestigationDetailing the alleged bribery payments made by Sihombing to Hindayana.

Furthermore, investigators revealed that Sihombing made regular cash payments, in both foreign currency and Rupiah, to Hindayana. These payments, reportedly starting in 2025 and averaging around 100 million Rupiah per SPPG point, were allegedly sourced from MBG partners who sought Sihombing's and Hindayana's assistance to secure their positions. The investigation is ongoing.

The amount received was above (Rp) 20 million. And on average around one hundred million. And the payments were made regularly, since 2025.

— Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, Director of InvestigationSpecifying the amounts and frequency of the alleged payments.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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