Lawyer Elza Syarief Withdraws from Sony Sonjaya Defence Team Over Corruption Allegations

Elza Syarief, a prominent Indonesian lawyer, has withdrawn from the legal defence team of Sony Sonjaya, former Deputy Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), after concluding that Sonjaya had been dishonest about his involvement in a corruption case related to the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) management. Syarief had initially agreed to represent Sonjaya pro bono, believing he was innocent, but reversed her position after receiving information from the Attorney General's Office revealing that Sonjaya allegedly received funds from Asep Yusuf Somantri, a person close to him.

The Attorney General's Office has identified two clusters of allegations in the case: the buying and selling of MBG distribution points (SPPG) across various regions, and markup in the procurement of goods or services. Asep Yusuf Somantri was named as a suspect on 11 June 2026 for allegedly involvement in determining SPPG locations. Five individuals have been designated as suspects in total, with investigations focusing on bringing them to trial expeditiously.

Sony Sonjaya submitted a justice collaborator (JC) application to the Attorney General's Office, which remains under review. The Special Crimes Directorate of the Prosecutor's Office stated there are three considerations in evaluating the JC request: the sufficiency of existing evidence, whether additional testimony from Sonjaya is needed, and the extent to which he can effectively serve as a collaborator given his position and capacity. Officials confirmed they have not yet determined the exact number of individuals Sonjaya has named in connection with the case, though any names mentioned are expected to be linked to the five identified suspects.

The Attorney General's Office has also indicated willingness to pursue money laundering (TPPU) charges if evidence supports such allegations. Officials stated that prosecution aims not only to penalise those responsible but also to recover state losses. The investigation continues to focus on the five detained suspects to prepare cases for trial, with the Office committed to pursuing the matter comprehensively and following evidence wherever it leads.