ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Indonesia’s massive Free Nutritious Meals Program, one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship social initiatives with a budget exceeding US$22 billion (IDR353 trillion) over 2025–2026, has been hit by a widening corruption investigation after prosecutors named a sixth suspect linked to the scheme.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on Thursday announced the arrest and detention of Glory Harimas Sihombing (GHS), chairman of the Indonesia Food Security Review (IFSR) Foundation, alleging his involvement in the manipulation of contracts and access to government-backed nutrition service facilities under the national school feeding program.
The latest development marks a significant escalation in the corruption probe surrounding the management of the Free Nutritious Meals Program, known locally as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), which was launched on January 6, 2025, to improve nutritional intake among schoolchildren across the country.
According to investigators, the program was allocated IDR85.27 trillion in 2025 and IDR268 trillion in 2026, making it one of the largest publicly funded social welfare initiatives in Indonesia’s history.
Prosecutors Allege Network of Affiliated Foundations
The Attorney General’s Office said foundations appointed as partners of the Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) were allegedly affiliated with senior officials of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and failed to meet eligibility requirements.
Investigators suspect that verification procedures for partner organizations were manipulated, allowing certain foundations to secure access to lucrative contracts and incentives worth billions of rupiah per day.
Director of Investigations Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi said several of the affiliated foundations were allegedly controlled by Glory Harimas Sihombing.
According to prosecutors, former National Nutrition Agency chief Dadan Hindayana allegedly instructed Glory to recruit partners for the implementation of the program and unlawfully granted him privileged access to obtain SPPG kitchen locations through foundations under his control.
Alleged Sale of Government Kitchen Locations
Investigators allege that after obtaining the government-approved kitchen locations, Glory’s foundation sold access rights to third parties seeking to establish meal-production facilities under the MBG program.
Prosecutors said the kitchen locations were obtained using inaccurate documentation and that the registered sites often differed from the actual locations proposed by prospective operators.
The investigation also revealed that Glory allegedly enjoyed direct access to verification teams appointed by the former BGN leadership, enabling him to facilitate administrative changes and restore suspended operational statuses for kitchen facilities linked to his foundations.
Authorities estimate that some SPPG kitchen locations were sold for around IDR100 million (approximately US$6,100) per site, although investigators believe the total value of the transactions could be significantly higher.
Cash Payments Allegedly Made to Former Agency Chief
The Attorney General’s Office further alleges that Glory provided cash payments in both Indonesian rupiah and foreign currencies to former BGN chief Dadan Hindayana.
According to investigators, the money originated from prospective MBG partners who sought assistance in securing participation in the government program.
Prosecutors claim the payments were made repeatedly over several months beginning in 2025 and formed part of a broader pattern of illicit benefits tied to the allocation of contracts and operational permits.
Six Suspects Named
With the designation of Glory Harimas Sihombing as a suspect, the total number of individuals charged in the case has risen to six.
Those previously named include former BGN chief Dadan Hindayana, former deputy chiefs Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, businessman Asep Yusuf Somantri, and Andri Mulyono, a commissioner of PT Yasa Artha Trimanunggal.
Investigators are also examining allegations of irregular procurement practices involving government purchases worth hundreds of millions of dollars, including electric motorcycles, tablets, footwear, surveillance systems, and large-screen televisions intended for program implementation.
Investigation Continues
The Attorney General’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and warned that additional suspects could emerge as prosecutors continue tracing financial flows, foundation networks, procurement activities, and alleged influence-peddling within the multibillion-dollar nutrition initiative.
Glory Harimas Sihombing has been detained for 20 days at the Salemba detention facility pending further investigation.
The expanding corruption case now casts a shadow over one of Indonesia’s most ambitious social welfare programs, which was designed to improve child nutrition nationwide but is increasingly facing scrutiny over its governance and management. (AT Network)
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