Expert Highlights Numerous Corruption Cases That Do Not Lead to Asset Forfeiture

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - University of Indonesia (UI) law expert, Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, has highlighted the prevalence of corruption cases that lead to convictions. However, many of these convictions do not result in the forfeiture of the corrupt individuals’ assets. “I am trying to identify the problems in the current asset forfeiture process. First, there are quite a few corruption, money laundering, and other cases that end in convictions, but they do not always lead to asset forfeiture for one reason or another,” stated Harkristuti during a public hearing (RDPU) on the Asset Forfeiture Bill with the DPR’s Commission III, quoted from the Youtube broadcast of TVR Parlemen on Monday (20/4/2026). The first issue is the burdensome requirements of reciprocal legal principles and banking secrecy concerns. The second is the lack of recovery procedures not based on criminal court decisions. “(Third) The issue also relates to limitations in evidentiary law and procedural practices,” said Harkristuti. She also mentioned obstacles in asset forfeiture related to criminal acts, particularly for assets that cannot be located or have been transferred abroad. Therefore, she considers the Asset Forfeiture Bill essential to prevent perpetrators of criminal acts from enjoying the proceeds of their crimes. “With this law, we can hope to recover state losses due to criminal acts by forfeiting illegally obtained assets without a criminal conviction,” stated Harkristuti. Previously, the DPR’s Expert Body had prepared and completed the academic paper and draft of the Asset Forfeiture Bill Related to Criminal Acts. The Head of the DPR’s Expert Body, Bayu Dwi Anggono, explained that the draft of the Asset Forfeiture Bill consists of eight chapters and 62 articles. Here is the breakdown of the eight chapters in the Asset Forfeiture Bill draft: “In the context of why this bill is important, it ensures that the proceeds of crime cannot be enjoyed by the perpetrators. Primarily, it targets crimes with economic motives, seeking profit and so on, so that they can be recovered,” said Bayu during the hearing on Thursday. Other key provisions include the asset management institution, asset management procedures, accountability for asset management, cooperation agreements with other countries, agreements between the government and other countries for profit sharing, funding sources, budget accountability management, and closing provisions.