Indonesia Police Arrest Ex-Head of School Meal Plan for Corruption

Indonesian police have arrested Dadan Hindayana, the former director of the government's flagship free school meal program, on suspicion of corruption. Hindayana, who was dismissed just a day prior, is accused of leading a corrupt scheme since the program's inception in January 2025.

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Among the offenses include the acquisition of 21,801 electric motorcycles for a total cost of approximately one trillion Indonesian rupiah (about $55.6 million), the purchase of 32,000 pairs of shoes that did not meet the requirements, and the over-sale of 31,000 digital tablets that also did not meet the requirements.

The investigation uncovered significant financial irregularities. These include the alleged acquisition of 21,801 electric motorcycles at an inflated cost of approximately one trillion Indonesian rupiah ($55.6 million). Additionally, the program reportedly purchased 32,000 pairs of shoes and 31,000 tablets that did not meet required standards.

The corruption allegedly involved using school foundations as a front. These foundations, linked to officials from the National Nutrition Agency, are said to have received substantial daily incentives. The scheme also involved illegally procuring goods and services, with alleged intervention from the Audit Board to inflate purchase prices.

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the program 'should be managed by foundations in each school,' but these organizations were linked to officials from the National Nutrition Agency, 'received billions of rupiah in incentives daily and are affiliated with companies owned' by Dadan and the other two detained directors.

President Prabowo Subianto championed the school meal program, which aims to provide food for 80 million students aged 6 to 18, as a key policy to combat child malnutrition and obesity. The program was a significant part of his platform during the 2024 election, promising to boost the nation's economic growth. However, the initiative has faced criticism due to numerous reports of students falling ill after consuming the provided meals.

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In addition to using foundations, they carried out the procurement process for goods and services illegally, intervening with the Audit Board so that acquisition prices would be inflated.