Asset Forfeiture Bill Deemed Urgent, Academic Highlights Four Loopholes

A doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Criminology, Ahmad Novindri Aji Sukma, has stated that Indonesia urgently needs a stronger legal framework for asset forfeiture to close various loopholes that have made it difficult for the state to recover criminal assets. Speaking online during a public hearing with the leadership and members of House Commission III at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, 20 July 2026, Aji expressed his full support for the deliberation and ratification of the Asset Forfeiture Bill. He believes the regulation deserves to become a new legal instrument to strengthen the mechanism for recovering assets resulting from criminal acts. “I am providing a main conclusion so that the direction of my input can be clearly understood. My position here is clear, namely that this Bill is feasible and must be supported because Indonesia truly needs a strong asset recovery framework,” Aji said. However, he noted that several aspects still need to be refined before the bill is passed. In his presentation, Aji reminded that the draft regulation still has several weaknesses that require the House’s attention. According to him, one of the biggest challenges lies in the design of procedural and institutional safeguards in the implementation of asset forfeiture. He highlighted the need for clarity regarding the standard of proof, protection of third parties, division of asset management authority, and the potential for conflicts of interest between law enforcement agencies and parties managing seized assets. “The main weakness of this Bill lies in the design of its institutional procedural safeguards. The standard of proof and protection of third parties, the division of asset management responsibilities, and the potential for conflicts of interest between law enforcement functions and asset management functions,” he stated. According to Aji, improvements in these aspects will make the implementation of the Asset Forfeiture Bill more effective and provide legal certainty.