Sources also claimed that two former senior BGN officials, identified as Lodewyk Pusung and Sony Sanjaya, were being pursued or questioned as part of the same investigation.
The funds are distributed directly to kitchens operating under the programme, known as Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), across the country.
Prabowo highlighted the significant employment potential of the MBG programme.
![Suspect in the alleged corruption case involving the governance of Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme at the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sony Sonjaya (right), walks towards a detention vehicle at the Attorney General’s Office in Jakarta, Wednesday (3 June 2026). [ANTARA FOTO/M Risyal Hidayat/bar]](https://media.theindonesia.id/thumbs/2026/06/23/73054-sony-sonjaya/653x366-img-73054-sony-sonjaya.jpg)
TheIndonesia.co - The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has rejected the application for justice collaborator (JC) status submitted by Sony Sonjaya, a suspect in the alleged corruption case linked to the governance of Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme. Investigators concluded that the former Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) was the principal offender.
Director of Investigations at the Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus), Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi, said the request could not be granted after investigators examined the case and reviewed the evidence that had been seized.
“We are unable to grant, or in other words we reject, the application for justice collaborator status submitted by suspect SS,” Syarief said at the AGO headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday (23 June 2026).
According to Syarief, one of the main reasons for the rejection was that Sony held primary responsibility for determining and verifying the locations of the Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG).
“Mr SS was the party most responsible for the determination and verification of SPPG locations. Therefore, he is considered the principal actor in this case,” he said.
Investigators also believe Sony played a role in the alleged buying and selling of SPPG locations, which is suspected to have contributed to state losses, including through procurement processes within the BGN.
In addition, investigators said Sony had not fully admitted to the acts attributed to him in the case.
“During yesterday’s examination, investigators did not consider that the suspect had acknowledged the conduct as alleged,” Syarief explained.
Although the JC request was rejected, the AGO said it still appreciated the information provided by Sony during questioning. Investigators believe the information could help clarify the broader case.
“We value all information provided and it may help shed light on this case. However, justice collaborator status is governed by existing regulations,” Syarief said.
Sony Sonjaya had previously applied for justice collaborator status after being named a suspect in the alleged corruption case involving the MBG programme.
Alongside Sony, the AGO also named former BGN Head Dadan Hindayana and BGN Deputy Head Lodewyk Pusung as suspects.
The three are alleged to have used foundations affiliated with them as SPPG partners and received incentives worth billions of rupiah each day.
Investigators also uncovered alleged intervention in several procurement projects within the BGN, including the procurement of 21,801 electric motorcycles worth approximately Rp1 trillion, 32,000 pairs of shoes, tens of thousands of tablet devices, and 5,400 units of 75-inch televisions.
In this case, the suspects have been charged under Articles 603 and 604 of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of Law No. 31 of 1999 on the Eradication of Corruption.
