Expert proposes including environmental crime in Asset Forfeiture Bill

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Yudi Syamhudi Suyuti, Expert Advisor to the Minister of Environment for Advocacy and Public Participation Strengthening, has proposed that financial crimes related to environmental damage, known as green financial crime, be included in the draft Asset Forfeiture Bill. “Stronger regulations are necessary because the value of money circulating from environmental crimes is enormous,” Yudi said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday. The proposal was submitted to Commission III of the House of Representatives as an effort to strengthen enforcement and recover state losses from environmental crimes. Citing a report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Yudi noted that the turnover of money from environmental crimes reached Rp994 trillion. Yudi also proposed that the law designate a lead institution for enforcement. He assessed that the Ministry of Environment or the Environmental Control Agency has the capacity to carry out this function through its law enforcement apparatus and environmental damage mapping. This mapping, he continued, covers damage on land, underground, at sea, in rivers, lakes, and even the air. This capability is considered crucial for linking acts of environmental destruction with the flow of funds and assets generated. “The task force is designed to carry out the functions of prevention, enforcement, and environmental restoration,” he said. The proposed Environmental Law Enforcement Task Force would involve elements from the Ministry of Environment, PPATK, the Corruption Eradication Commission, legal aid institutions, and civil society groups. Yudi believes environmental crime must be handled seriously as it not only causes state financial losses but also threatens the sustainability of ecosystems and community livelihoods. “The bottom line is that a legal umbrella in the form of a law is needed to strengthen enforcement or law enforcement in these cases,” Yudi stated. The Asset Forfeiture Bill is currently listed as number six in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Programme and is targeted for enactment in 2026. As of August 2026, its deliberation has reached the stage of harmonising the bill’s body with the national legal system.