Indonesian Police Vow No Protection for Corruption Suspect Brig. Gen. Mahardan

Indonesia's National Police (Polri) have declared they will not shield Brig. Gen. Lalu Muhammad Iwan Mahardan, who has been named a suspect in a corruption case related to the "Makan Bergizi Gratis" (MBG) project by the Attorney General's Office.

"Polri supports and respects the law enforcement process," stated Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir, Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Headquarters. He asserted that Polri consistently strives to combat corruption and is committed to ensuring no impunity for any member. "And is committed to no impunity for any Polri individual," Johnny said in a written statement on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Director of Investigation at the Attorney General's Office's Special Crimes Directorate, Syarief Sulaiman Nahdi, explained that Mahardan is still an active member of the police but holds a position at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). According to Syarief, Mahardan allegedly instructed witnesses YCS and RD in 2025 to establish a company. This company was tasked with selling food trays, or "ompreng," to potential partners of the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Unit (SPPG) at a price set by Mahardan. Syarief noted that this price included a portion designated for Mahardan.

The Attorney General's Office designated Mahardan as a suspect several days prior and has charged him under Article 12 letters a, b, or e of the Law on Eradication of Corruption Crimes, in conjunction with the Criminal Code. He is currently detained for twenty days at the Salemba Detention Center, South Jakarta District Court Branch. Previously, prosecutors had named six other suspects in the alleged corruption case of the MBG management, including former BGN Chairman Dadan Hindayana, his deputies Sony Sanjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, Sony's close associate Asep Yusuf Somantri, Commissioner of PT Yasa Artha Trimanunggal (PT YAT) Andri Mulyono, and Chairman of the Indonesia Food Security Review (IFSR) Foundation Glory Harimas Sihombing.