ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — A corruption scandal has struck Indonesia’s flagship Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG) after three former senior officials of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) were detained by the Attorney General’s Office, raising serious questions about governance and accountability within one of President Prabowo Subianto’s most ambitious social initiatives.
Former BGN Chief Dadan Hindayana, along with former deputy leaders Lodewyk Pusung and Sony Sanjaya, was formally detained on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the management of the nationwide nutrition program.
The three former officials were escorted from the Attorney General’s Office headquarters in Jakarta wearing detainee vests and handcuffs after undergoing questioning by investigators.
The detentions came just one day after President Prabowo replaced the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency in a move initially presented as an effort to strengthen governance, improve institutional performance, and accelerate the implementation of priority nutrition programs.
On Tuesday, June 2, the President appointed Nanik S. Deyang as the new head of the agency, supported by Agustina Arumsari and Major General Trenggono as deputy heads. The government said the leadership overhaul followed nearly 18 months of monitoring and evaluation of the agency’s performance.
Investigators reportedly searched BGN’s headquarters in Jakarta before detaining the former officials, seeking additional evidence linked to the alleged misconduct.
The case has attracted widespread public attention because it involves the Free Nutritious Meals Program, a cornerstone of President Prabowo’s agenda aimed at combating malnutrition, improving public health, and strengthening Indonesia’s long-term human capital development.
While prosecutors have yet to publicly disclose the full details of the allegations, the arrests represent a significant escalation in the investigation and have intensified scrutiny of how the program was managed under the previous leadership.
Government officials have emphasized that the Free Nutritious Meals Program will continue uninterrupted despite the ongoing legal proceedings. The newly appointed leadership has been tasked with strengthening transparency, improving governance standards, and restoring public confidence in the agency.
The scandal is expected to become a major test of Indonesia’s commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability in the management of strategic national programs that directly affect millions of citizens.
As the investigation unfolds, public attention will remain focused on whether authorities can fully uncover the extent of the alleged wrongdoing while safeguarding the future of one of the country’s most important social welfare initiatives. (AT Network)
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