Asset Forfeiture Bill Discussed, Protection of Citizens' Rights in Spotlight
Member of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, Benny K. Harman, emphasised the importance of maintaining a balance between the state’s authority to seize assets and the protection of citizens’ rights. He stated this during the discussion of the Asset Forfeiture Bill at Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, 6 April 2026.
According to Benny, asset forfeiture represents a significant exercise of state power, which must be strictly regulated to avoid misuse of authority. “Asset forfeiture directly relates to state power and citizens’ property rights. Therefore, there must be clear boundaries to prevent abuse,” said Benny.
He questioned several fundamental aspects of the asset forfeiture concept, from who is authorised to perform the seizure, what objects can be seized, to the oversight mechanisms for the institutions exercising that authority. “This must be clear. If not, it could lead to abuse of power,” stressed the politician from the Democrat Party Faction.
Benny also highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in every asset forfeiture process. In his view, the process must not be conducted secretly so that the public can monitor it. “It must not be done in the dark. It has to be open so the public can oversee it and interested parties can raise objections,” he said.
He further reminded of the need to protect good-faith third parties. In many cases, seized or forfeited assets are not entirely owned by the criminal perpetrators. “There must be protection for good-faith third parties. They should not be harmed,” he stated.
In addition, Benny pointed out the possibility of acquittal decisions in criminal cases, which would require the state to return seized assets. “If there is an acquittal, the assets must be returned. This is part of the rule of law principle,” he asserted.
He added that the discussion of the Asset Forfeiture Bill requires strong academic input so that every policy taken is truly rational and accountable. “We need rational explanations from academics, so that the decisions made by the House of Representatives are truly appropriate,” he said.
With these various notes, Commission III of the House of Representatives hopes that the Asset Forfeiture Bill can become an effective legal instrument in eradicating criminal acts, while still guaranteeing the protection of citizens’ rights.