Indonesian Free Meals Program Faces Corruption Probe Amid Malnutrition Crisis
Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency is under investigation following the dismissal of its head, Dadan Hindayana, amid corruption allegations tied to a free meals program. This initiative, launched by President Prabowo Subianto, aimed to combat child malnutrition by providing meals to nearly 90 million children and pregnant women. However, the program has faced criticism due to high costs and numerous food poisoning incidents among schoolchildren. The Attorney General's Office has arrested Hindayana and two other officials, Sony Sonjaya and Lodewyk Pusung, on charges of corruption related to the program. Investigators allege that these officials manipulated the agency's partner verification system to benefit certain foundations, which received substantial financial incentives. Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to the program, which is expected to cost $28 billion through 2029. 
