Discussing Asset Forfeiture Bill, Academics Propose Protection for Third Parties

Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) held a Public Hearing (RDPU) with academics regarding the Asset Forfeiture Bill. Taufik Rahman, an academic from the Faculty of Law at Airlangga University, proposed that assets derived from criminal acts held by third parties should not be subject to forfeiture, provided that the party acted in good faith and was unaware of the asset’s criminal origins.

“Third parties who acquire or control assets in good faith, and without knowing or reasonably suspecting the connection of the assets to a criminal act, must be provided with legal protection and cannot be subject to asset forfeiture merely because the asset was once under the control of a criminal,” Taufik stated at Commission III of the DPR, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday (5/10/2026).

Taufik argued that these third parties must be protected as long as they are unaware that the assets they obtained originated from criminal activity. Furthermore, Taufik suggested that parties with a legal interest in assets resulting from criminal acts must be formally notified.

“Regarding the rights of interested parties, everyone who has a legal interest in an asset is entitled to receive notification, submit claims, present evidence, obtain legal assistance, be heard, and pursue legal remedies against forfeiture decisions,” said Taufik.

Taufik explained that there must be a guarantee that relevant parties receive clear notification. These interested parties must also be provided with access to legal assistance.

“I mentioned that people related to the assets that are intended to be forfeited must be… must be guaranteed that they have been provided with clear notice,” he added.