Prabowo-Gibran Free Food Program Swallows Victims, Losses Reaches IDR 70 Million

Photo Illustration: Antara

JAKARTA - Dozens of catering entrepreneurs in Kediri, East Java, were deceived by the actions of individuals with the lure of preparing for free nutritious meals, a program launched by the President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

One of the victims, Diah admitted that he was initially offered by his friend regarding the free nutritious food program for 1,000 boxes. At that time, there were still no matters related to payments.

"Until a few weeks later there was a payment of Rp. 1 million," he said for the agreement. Guarantee that we entered his group," said Diah, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, December 29.

He took 2,000 boxes, so he handed over Rp2 million which was received by an individual with the initials M.

He did not know that M was suspected of committing fraud. He became quite restless, because it was not only himself who was suspected of being a victim, but there were many others. In fact, the information was that the money collected was more than Rp. 70 million from the action carried out by M.

He and his other friends also became victims thinking positively that the money would be returned at the end of December 2024. It has also been agreed with other victims, so there are no plans to report to the police. The Rp2 million money is very meaningful, because the catering business capital.

He also added that in carrying out the action, M did not explain the details related to the use of the money. He only said that the money was a guarantee that it had entered his group.

He also did not know that M was not related to a community group on behalf of the Manunggal Pokmas Cipto Roso. During the delivery of the payment sign, M also did not say he was part of the pokmas.

Manunggal Pokmas Advisor Cipto Roso Nuriko Pramega said M was a administrator in the pokmas, but his actions who took advantage of the opportunity for fraud made other administrators object, so M has now been expelled from the pokmas.

He mentioned that pokmas never collects fees, especially to subs. The existence of the levy is carried out by individuals who seek personal benefits, gathering partnerships for the free nutritious eating program.

"There are people who take the opportunity to seek personal benefits by collecting partnerships to welcome the free nutritious food program by withdrawing guarantee contributions from subs who want to join, even though in pokmas they do not attract anything to subs who want to join," he said.

He also asked those partners who wanted to join the pokmas to be careful. Pokmas also never came to homes, including admitting to winning tenders from the TNI.

"We never said we won the tender. So, (the issue) that won the tender for the person was used to attract, look for subs that could be made victims," he said.

He added, in this pokmas many join from MSMEs to catering entrepreneurs. Pokmas has indeed conducted free nutritious eating trials to a number of schools in Kediri Regency, so that if later the program runs, it can be more prepared.

He also admitted that the pokmas had no plans to report this to the police. In this case, the pokmas was negatively affected, because it was claimed to be involved, even though the person who did it was an individual.

However, from the information he got, there was already communication between the victim and M, that M was willing to return the victim's money.

"It was still internally resolved, because there was a good iktikat. The victim also apologized to the pokmas, because of a misunderstanding it turned out to be the work of an individual. The person's name was written in the receipt itself," he said again.