KPK monitors proposal for special body to manage seized assets

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed it is monitoring a proposal to establish a special body to act as the manager of seized assets, which has surfaced during discussions on the Draft Law on Asset Forfeiture. “This is still in the deliberation process, and we are jointly monitoring or overseeing it,” said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday. Budi further reminded relevant stakeholders to analyse the proposal’s effectiveness, especially since the KPK has been managing assets seized from corruption cases all along. “Of course, it needs to be weighed, analysed, and examined to determine which is more effective. Is a new institution necessary, or should existing institutions be optimised?” he said. “We need to appreciate and continue to support this, as it has been planned for quite a long time. From the outset, the KPK, along with several other institutions and observers—be they academics, researchers, or other parties—has continuously pushed for this asset forfeiture,” he added. Previously, a number of parties, both within and outside meetings of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), voiced the proposal to establish a special body for managing seized assets. Among them were Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman, Deputy Chairman Ahmad Sahroni, Chairman of the Indonesian Advocates Association ‘Suara Advokat Indonesia’ Harry Ponto, and Vice Rector IV of Muhammadiyah University Jakarta Septa Candra.