Barelang police investigate Rp400 million fraud tied to national free meal programme’s SPPG locations.
A suspected scam involving the sale of Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) locations linked to Indonesia’s Makan Bergizi Gratis free meal programme has drawn top-level police and Badan Gizi Nasional scrutiny in Batam.
National Police Vow To Guard MBG Programme
At a press conference at Barelang Police headquarters on May 23, Kepulauan Riau deputy police chief Brigjen Pol Anom Wibowo said Polda Kepri will fully oversee the legal process in an alleged fraud and embezzlement case involving SPPG locations. He stressed that the Badan Gizi Nasional (BGN) programme is a national initiative that must be protected from abuse. Two disputed SPPG points are in Bengkong and Lubuk Baja, and Anom said police will follow the case “until there is a final court decision,” underscoring institutional backing for programme integrity.
BGN Steps In To Tighten SPPG Verification
BGN deputy head Sony Sanjaya, who attended the briefing, said his agency is “coming down the mountain” to directly supervise SPPG application and verification processes across regions. He warned that MBG, which targets millions of Indonesian children, must not be tainted by scams or the sale of location points that lack certainty. Sony requested strong support from the police to monitor the programme closely, noting that similar cases have surfaced elsewhere and suspects have been arrested. After Batam, BGN will intensify inspections in other areas to ensure there are no payments at any stage of SPPG verification or submission.
Complaint Over ‘Sale’ Of Two SPPG Points In Batam
Barelang deputy police chief AKP Fadli Agus said the case began with a report from a resident identified as Hn, who claimed to be cheated in March 2026 after buying two SPPG points, one each in Bengkong and Lubuk Baja, at Rp200 million per point. The total reported loss is Rp400 million. The points were allegedly sold by a former employee of a foundation to another party before reaching Hn, raising questions over who actually had authority to deal with locations still under BGN verification.
Alleged Role Of Intermediaries Am And RD
Police have named two reported parties in the complaint, identified by initials Am and RD. According to Fadli, RD received a mandate to sell SPPG locations that had been submitted by a foundation and remained in the verification phase. RD then authorised Am to sell those points on to others, including Hn. The transaction is now suspected to be problematic, since SPPG locations are part of a public programme and should not be traded for private gain, especially before official approval has been granted.
Evidence Gathering And Next Investigative Steps
Investigators at Barelang Police are still collecting evidence and plan to hold a case conference (gelar perkara) to raise the status to full investigation. In addition to questioning the reported parties Am and RD, officers will summon representatives of the foundation involved in the SPPG submissions as witnesses, to clarify how the points were managed and who may have profited. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, especially given cross-border interest in Batam’s governance, the case highlights how even well-intentioned national nutrition programmes can be undermined by local scams if verification processes are not transparent and strictly enforced.
The alleged sale of SPPG locations in Batam underscores the vulnerabilities that arise when intermediaries treat public programme assets as private commodities. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the joint stance of Polda Kepri and BGN shows an emerging determination to protect flagship initiatives like MBG from fraud, but also signals the need for stronger systems, clearer rules and community vigilance so that benefits reach children rather than opportunistic brokers.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Bisnis (2026)
Keywords: Anom Wibowo Statement, Sony Sanjaya Oversight, Bengkong And Lubuk Baja SPPG Points, Victim Hn Report, Suspects Am And RD
